Extracts from MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR
OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN RELATION TO THE
DISTURBANCES IN HANCOCK COUNTY, DEC. 25, 1844.

During the few days that the militia were encamped at Carthage, frequent applications were made to me, to send a force there, and a force all about the country, to prevent murders, robberies, and larcenies, which it was said, were threatened by the Mormons. No such forces were sent; nor were any such offences committed at that time, except the stealing of some provisions; and there was never the least proof that this was done by Mormons. Again, on my late visit to Hancock county I was informed by some of their violent enemies, that the larcenies of the Mormons had become unusually numerous and insufferable. -- They indeed admitted that but little had been done in this way in their immediate vicinity. But they insisted that sixteen horses had been stolen by the Mormons in one night, near Lima in the county of Adams. At the close of the expedition, I called at this same town of Lima, and upon enquiry, was told that no horses had been stolen in that neighborhood, but that sixteen horses had been stolen in one night in Hancock county. This last informant being told of the Hancock story again changed the venue, to another distant settlement in the northern edge of Adams.

A more contemptible paragraph than the above, was never conceived in Billingsgate, or penned by a pot-house reporter. Because, forsooth, in times of unprecedented excitement and alarm, some timid and nervous persons suffered their imaginations to get the better of their wit, and spread exaggerated reports through the country, the Governor charges it as part of a digested plan for raising excitement, and compares the proceedings of our citizens in this, to the Jacobins of France. Is it for want of common sense that this charge has been made by his Excellency, or it is because his mind is surcharged with malice? When was there ever a community under arms, and in a state of high excitement, that was not distracted with rumors and false reports; and who is to blame, but the fears of the timid? In relation to the horse-stealing story above recited, Gov. Ford shows so little regard for truth, that we would be justified in saying that he never heard such a story; but allowing that he did, we can only account for it by supposing that some wags, seeing how far his Excellency's gullibility had been already imposed on by the Mormons, thought to try their hands at him, by telling him a horse-stealing story. However, the wags did nit miss it much; for there were six or seven horses stolen in one night in Hancock....

Justice, however, requires me (Gov. Ford) here to say I have investigated the charge of promiscuous stealing and find it greatly exaggerated. I could not ascertain that there were a greater proportion of thieves in that community than any other of the same number of inhabitants; and perhaps if the city of Nauvoo were compared with St. Louis, or any other Western city, the proportion would not be so great. I think it very probable, however, that the Mormons sometimes erred in protecting members of their community from prosecution and punishment, who were accused of offences, under the belief that the accusation against them was a persecution of their enemies on account of their religion.

It is a little singular, that Gov. Ford should call the above, in relation to Mormon larcenies a solemn statement. Does he not know better? If he has no more correct information than he here gives to the Legislature, he should have held his peace. Let but a committee investigate this matter and we pledge ourselves to produce the most damning proof that there are more thefts committed in Hancock county, than any county in the Union, in proportion to population; and what is very singular, the property lost always belongs to old citizens. Quere: Do not the citizens of St. Louis feel very much flattered by Gov. Ford's comparison of their city to a next of black-legs, counterfeiters and cut-throats?

(under construction)

Notes: (forthcoming)

NS No. 47.
Warsaw, Illinois, January 22, 1845.
Whole 162.

RICH, DECIDEDLY

Our readers are all aware that the city of Nauvoo is divided into two factions: the Rigdonites and Twelveites -- the latter being the most numerous and by far the greatest scoundrels. The Twelveites in order to force the Rigdonites into measures, commenced a system of pilfering, which became so oppressive, that some of the Rigdonites could no longer stand their losses and either left the city or renounced their faith. Amongst the latter class, a William Marks, who being a man of property, sustained heavy losses by thefts, and on account of the unsettled state of his business, could not leave the city. 00 He, therefore, published a note a few weeks since in the Neighbor, renouncing Rigdon -- joining the Twelve, and exhorting all with whom he had any influence to do likewise. A few days after this, all his stolen property was returned. His harness, he says, was buried while absent. Now we call this decidedly rich; but it is of the same class of cases, with that reported by Mr. Keegan, in another column; where a saint's cow was stolen by mistake, and an equal amount of beef and hide returned upon finding it out, with a note of apology, stating that the thief thought it was gentile beef,

MORMON STEALING.

(under construction)

MORMONANIA.

(under construction)

Notes: (forthcoming)

NS No. 51.
Warsaw, Illinois, February 19, 1845.
Whole 166.

RIGDON'S TOUR.

Rigdon has lately been travelling through the east, preaching up his claims to the Brethren. On his return, he published the following account of his journey, which, as showing the state of the church abroad, will interest our readers.

Among the churches we visited, there was a great deal of excitement; many of the principle members had either withdrawn from the church or had been cut off, and of this number were the presiding elders of the church of Philadelphia, New York, Boston, New Egypt, N. J. and Woodstown, N. J. On inquiring into the cause of the difficulties, in every instance, it was the spiritual wife system which had caused the separation, and exclusion. The course pursued by the advocates of this system, which were the traveling elders, were, that as soon as a man became dissatisfied with the teachings of these believers in polygamy, & was bold enough to express his dissatisfaction, calling it incestuous and adulterous, he or she was immediately arraigned before the church and charged with disobedience to the authorities; and with slandering the heads of the church, at the time of the trial, and every one who dare vote in favor of the person charged, was threatened with immediate expulsion from the church by these tyrants, and thus intimidated, and compelled to obey the mandate of their masters. A notable instance of this was related to me while in Boston. Older elder Nickerson, a man who was highly esteemed in Boston, and the father of the church there; when this system, of a plurality of wives, first made its appearance there, rose up against it, as every man of virtue would, and was so deeply affected with it, that he wept over the corruption that was creeping into the church, and declared his intention and determination, to lift his voice against it; this was no sooner known, than he was besieged by two of the so-called authorities, and threatened with exclusion, if he dare give testimony against those whom he had declared he knew were guilty of great improprieties, such as called for the interference of every virtuous man; and the old gentleman was so intimidated by their threats, he shrunk from his duty, and instead of discharging it, with a manly boldness, actually lifted his hand in favor of those whose conduct he had previously deprecated in the strongest terms. Every effort of this kind was made, that the most corrupt could invent, to conceal this system, without their having knowledge of it, till they were informed by some runner sent for the purpose, that at such a meeting they had been cut off from the church.

Every person who was known to be opposed to this system, if he or she could not be won over; or made to succumb by threats, were excluded, and their characters assailed in a most outrageous manner in order to destroy their influence, that their testimony might not be believed. -- By such extraordinary means did the advocates of this system attempt to sustain themselves; but it was all in vain, for concealment was no longer possible, the truth has been made manifest, as Paul said it should, so that the world now knows, that every person, male or female, who adheres to these leaders, do it because they are in favor of the system of a plurality of wives, and for this cause they are found numbered with them. Ignorance can no longer be plead.

A state of things of the above character, must of necessity, produce a confusion and excitement, in a greater or less degree; and such we found through the whole of our journey.

After we left this city, we made no stop until we reached Philadelphia; there we found a separation had taken place in the church, caused as above; a church was organized, to which we delivered a short course of lectures and then proceeded to New York, found the same causes had produced the same effects there; we delivered a course of lectures there, and formed a church, and then proceeded to Boston, and there formed another church. From thence we returned by way of New York, and passed into New Jersey, and formed two churches; returned to
Philadelphia and lectured again to the church there, and from thence came home.

At no period of our public ministry, have we been so successful in any one journey; success attended us at every place and in every step, from the time we left till we returned. We delivered as many, as would amount to nearly one lecture for every day we were gone, and we feel that we have cause for unceasing gratitude to our Heavenly Father, for all his mercies and loving kindness, and for the glorious door of hope he has opened unto us.

MORMON MISSIONARIES IN LIMA.

Mr. Editor. -- There was quite a farce "came off" in our village on Tuesday evening last, which ought not to be concealed from the readers of your worthy paper. The principal actors of the drama, were Henry Jacobs and Mr. _____, from the Holy City, (the same fellows who held forth a few evenings since in Quincy,) Mr. Ankrum of Green Plains, Henry Newton and T. L. Brackenridge of Lima.

On Monday afternoon, notices were posted up, informing us that a lecture would be delivered on Friday evening, "on republicanism, and the city council of Nauvoo." A respectable company of ladies and gentlemen were assembled as the hour arrived; presently the brethren appeared. Jacobs said, "we will commence the evening, by singing the hymn on page 1st, to the tune of Uxbridge." -- After the singing, he said, "Brother ____, will you pray with us?"

"Oh Lord we thank you for the privilege of again worshipping thee. Grant to take from our minds at this time all prejudice that we may hear the truth with unprejudiced minds, and the glory shall be thine for evermore. Amen." Jacobs then commenced: "We have come here," said he, "to say and hear something on republicanism. My grandfather fought in the war of the revolution -- my father fought in the last war, and I am willing to shed my blood in behalf of our rights. -- You all know what liberty cost[s]." Here he left his subject and went on the rest of the evening without it. But turning his attention, as a Mormon knows how, to the persecution of the brethren; he accused us of ignorance -- said we could not see one inch before our noses -- that the people of this county were mobocrats, murderers and thieves -- that they steal from each other, and then lay the thefts to the Mormons -- that the editor of the Warsaw Signal was concocting lies, and giving them to the world as facts -- that we were too apt to believe reports concerning them, that could not be proven, that were lies -- that they had always been a law abiding people -- that if the Queen of England himself were to come here he would find out that we had laws that would be enforced even against him -- that we had murdered two of the best men that ever lived, not for any crime they had committed, but for their religion; (here Mr. Ankrum said, "Joe cheated me out of three bushels of wheat.) -- that they challenged the world to mention one such crime. Here he called upon Mr. ______ to read the resolutions of the City Council, (those mentioned by the Quincy Whig.) After the reading, Jacobs went on: You see from this, that we are determined to put an end to stealing in our city -- that we will do it, (here Brackenridge said "God grant it!") Yes and every person we find guilty, we will expel from the church and send to Alton, (Brackenridge called out, 'glory to God!') Here some disturbance happening in the back part of the house, he gave us reprimand for misconduct -- said he could not expect anything more from those brought up in the back woods. Not being able to proceed further, he said, "let us look to God and be dismissed."

"Hold on!" said Brackenridge, "we have heard you through, nor sir, you must hear us."

Here Newton call[ed] Brackenridge up, for the purpose of detaining them, to apologise for his bad conduct. "Well," said B. "I didn't know I had done anything wrong, for I knew the brethren were in the habit of stealing, and when the gentleman said they were going to quit it -- I said 'God grant it!' and when they said they would send to Alton all that did steal, I felt so rejoiced that I could not help but say, 'Glory to God!'"

Here Newton took the floor, charged them with misrepresenting facts, told them of the case of Brown and Allred, who were found guilty of stealing, and afterwards admitted to fellowship -- confounded them on the causes of the late disturbances and defended the Signal and its editor, in a bold and praiseworthy manner. To all his questions, they had to plead ignorance, and made a move towards the door.

Here Brackenridge arose and said, "gentlemen, don't leave! I hold you to your promise. You said you were always willing to hear a fair investigation of the truth. Now for it. You talk of the republican spirit of the Mormons. Wherein do they show it? What was their course in Ohio -- in Missouri, and in this State? Has it not been marked with tyranny? You accuse us of believing reports, in the absence of evidence? Dare you deny the fact sir, that Joe was crowned king in Nauvoo? Has not this been sworn too, sir? Don;t think we are such gullible beings as Tom Ford, and the Mormons. Every thing we believe of you, sir, we believe on oath. You say of the Smiths, they were the best men that ever lived. Don't you know sir, that Joe was one of the basest seducers that ever lived? and to aid him out in his iniquity, did he not establish a system, the most pernicious to morality, that ever was established in an enlightened land -- the "Spiritual Wife System?" Do you demand the proof? Go to Rigdon -- he whom you once declared to be the man after God's own heart! You defy the world to give one instance of harboring a thief. Have you already forgotten the case of Jerry Smith? Don't think, sir, that you can affect us by your smooth language and your lies. Know, sir, that when you came here to gull the people, you get the wrong sow by the ear."

"You accuse us of ignorance. My God what impudence! in a man who knows not the rudiments of his own language, who murders language and destroys sentiment. Who says if the Queen of England, himself were to come here, he would find out that even he would have to obey the law."

"Perhaps the truth offends you, but take it all. (Here they moved towards the door.) Yes go and attend to your
Spiritual Wives. (They stop -- come back.) I am not half through. Now for the bogus. (They pick up the candles
from the stand and go.) Go! go!! the truth cuts too close. Go and attend to your Spiritual Wives. We will meet
again if it should be in heaven, if Joe will open the gates for us."
Your friend, the
Senator from Clark.

(under construction)

Notes: (forthcoming)

NS No. 52.
Warsaw, Illinois, February 26, 1845.
Whole 167.

MORMON THIEVES.

There has been quite a haul made of these gentry at Quincy. While they were under examination, a fellow arrived to
give evidence in favor of a prisoner, when the jailor discovered the horse he rode had been stolen from him about
15 months previous. The jailor claimed the horse, and the saint who stole him slipped

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II.
Warsaw, Illinois, March 5, 1845.
No. 1.

MORMONS IN BOSTON. -- We have received a copy of a pamphlet of 12 pages, entitled the "Trials of Elder John Hardy before the church of Latter Day Saints at Boston." This pamphlet, as it purports to be, is an account of a trial of elders G. J. Adams, Wm. Smith and S. Brannan, by saying they were licentious character[s]. It does, indeed, expose a most shameful and corrupt state of morals so far as Adams and Smith are concerned. Smith is the younger brother of the Prophet, and represented Hancock one session in the lower branch of the Legislature. The pamphlet shows him to be a most debased and hardened wretch, as well as his compeer, G. J. Adams. It seems from this publication, that the chief study of these worthies in Boston was, to devise plans to deceive the deluded females of their congregations, and seduce them to their wishes. They openly, where they had sufficient influence over the minds of their disciples, preached up the "Spiritual Wife System," and boldly proclaimed that a multiplicity of wives was part of their religion. It is shown that Smith had seduced a Miss A______ under a promise that he would marry her legally when his own wife, (who was then confined to a sick bed,) should be no more -- and this was all done through the connivance of the mother of Miss A_____, a member of Smith's church. Instances are also cited in the testimony, where Smith and Adams both held frequent carnal communication with the deluded sisters. In short, the pamphlet exposes a mass of villainy and corruption, only expected from the visitants of the brothel and bawdy-house; and from this and other corroborating testimony, we have not a doubt that Bennett's book exposing the Mormon imposture, is true to the letter! -- Quincy Whig.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, May 14, 1845. No. 11.

Horrible Murder -- Two Mormons Arrested!

On Saturday night last, a most horrible murder was committed, near the town of Franklin, Lee County, Iowa. The circumstances as near as we can gather them are as follows: An old man and his son emigrated to Iowa last spring, having in their possession a considerable sum of money, which they designed to invest in lands. On Saturday night last, three villains, evidently with a design of committing a robbery, entered the house where the old man and his son lodged. They were resisted, and in the fight that ensued, the old man received a wound that killed him instantly. The son was mortally wounded and died early next morning. The alarm having been given to the neighbors, the robbers fled without making any search for the money. These facts were learned from a lad who was in bed at the time of the murder but escaped with a deep wound.

On Sunday the inhabitants of Lee County turned out almost en masse, and instituted the strictest search for the murderers. They were tracked towards the river, by the blood, about four miles, and afterwards through Nashville. The party of pursuers at length discovered that they had crossed the river to Nauvoo, and followed after them. In Nauvoo they were ferreted out, and two of the murders by the name of Hodges, brothers, (one of them a Mormon Elder,) were arrested on yesterday morning. The third has so far eluded the vigilance of the pursuers.

Hodges resided in Nauvoo, and is a fair specimen of the Holy Brotherhood, and had he been pursued for any less offence, than that of murder, would have been shielded and protected by the Mormons; but under the circumstances, it would have been their destruction, as they well knew, to have given him countenance; they therefore, made a great ado, and after the murderers had been traced out, aided in the arrest.

This is the third midnight robbery that has been attempted in Lee County, within a few months, under circumstances which proved that the Mormons were concerned. While such a band of outlaws are suffered to remain in our midst neither life nor property is safe.

Note: The attack upon Rev. John Miller, a Mennonite German minister from Pennsylvania, and his son-in-law, Mr. Leiza, occurred on Saturday night, May 10, 1845, near Franklin, Lee Co., Iowa. This report in the Warsaw Signal was perhaps the first publication of the crime in the public press.
This article was reprinted in the Quincy Whig of May 21, 1845 and was paraphrased in the May 22, 1845 issue of the Iowa Davenport Gazette.

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, May 21, 1845. No. 12.

Late Murder in Lee County.

The following extract from a letter written by a citizen of Lee county, Iowa the day after the late brutal murder is probably as correct a version of the participants of the affair as any that has been made public.

West Point, May 11th., 1845.

Dear Sir: -- I hasten to communicate to you, one of the most daring, brutal and bloody murders, that have ever been recorded in the history of crimes in this country. About 11 o'clock last night, a house, about 3 miles south from this town which was occupied by three German families, (viz. Mr. Miller, his son-in-law, Mr. Leister, and another son-in-law, whose name I do not now recollect, with their wives and their children consisting of nine persons in all) was entered while they were all in a profound deep sleep, by three persons, and carrying a dark lantern and all armed with pistols, bowie knives and clubs. The first notice which this innocent group recorded at the visit of infernal fields, to their recent and humble residence, was the blows inflicted by two of the assassins on Miller and Leister -- each having selected his victim as they were lying upon a [----] bed upon the floor; while the third murderer had stationed himself a little in the rear, with his lantern in one hand, and a pistol in the other - the lantern being held in such a position as to cast a dim light upon their doomed victims. The onset was made with bowie knives, by heavy blows inflicted upon the heads of Miller and Leister, who both arose from their slumber, sprang to their feet, and Leister, a strong young man, grappled with his antagonist, and wrestled from him his club, and with it felled him to the floor; that moment he received a shot from the villain who held the lantern, which took effect in the right beast. He still however continued to deal his blows fast and heavy upon the adversary. When Mr. Miller, who was somewhat advanced in life, arose, he seized a chair to defend himself, which was soon broken to pieces upon his enemy. Then possessing himself of a gun, which was unfortunately not charged, he fought manfully and with many well aimed blows efficiently deadly upon the head of the bloody villain he beat him out of the house, amidst the thrusts, stabs and blows of his adversary's bowie-knife, and one shot from his pistol which did not take effect. On the threshold of the door, the assassin's knife was thrust into Miller's breast, passing through the chest to the spine, dividing the left lobe of the lungs, he staggered into the yard, fell and died without a groan. Leister was still contending with the other two fiends, and while grappling with the one upon the floor, the other succeeded in inflicting many awful wounds upon his back, shoulders, neck and head with is bowie-knife. The alarm having been given to the neighbors, the assassins fled, one losing his club and another his cap. Mr. Leister it is thought cannot live."

Leister, by the last accounts, appeared to be doing well, and there are strong hopes of his recovery.

The murderers were arrested as we stated last week, in Nauvoo, on Wednesday morning. They were detained in the city until Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Grand Jury of Lee county, being in session, found a true bill against the two Hodges and Brown, and with a copy of this bill the Sheriff proceeded to Nauvoo and informed the criminals that they could have their choice, either to go to Carthage jail and wait a requisition, or proceed immediately to Fort Madison. - They preferred the latter and are now safely lodged in strong quarters. It is thought that their trials will come off the present week.

While the Hodges were under arrest in Nauvoo, some of the brethren talked a good deal about not giving them up; but the people of Lee, gave them to understand what would be the result of such a proceeding, and soon they became very tame and submissive.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II.
Warsaw, Illinois, May 28, 1845.
No. 13.

THE MORMONS PREPARING TO LEAVE. -- The editor of Sidney Rigdon's paper at Pittsburgh, says that he has just received a letter, stating that elder Chairman, a high priest direct from Nauvoo, said a short time since in Cincinnati, that "the twelve" were not paying out much money on the Temple, as they intended to use the money for travelling when they leave Nauvoo -- that they were now corresponding with James Emmett, who left Nauvoo last fall, and that he is looking out a suitable location for the church in the vicinity of Red River -- but that they were keeping the brethren in Nauvoo ignorant of their intentions and plans. -- Quincy Whig.

There has been a case of lynching in Hancock county, on account of a Mormon having carried the spiritual wife doctrine so far as to seduce his two daughters. The Mormon Elder received 30 lashes, well laid on, accompanied with a downy coat. -- Sangamo Journal.

The lynching part of the above story we had not heard before.

The Louisville Journal thinks if the Mormons are permitted to remain in Illinois, the State should erect Penitentiary walls around the city of Nauvoo.

MORMONISM. -- The article we copy today from the Pittsburgh Gazette shows that Mormonism has assumed a new phase under the teachings and pretended revelations of Rigdon, a learned, talented man, but, as we believe, an arch hypocrite. -- That Rigdon had a hand in getting up the Book of Mormon, is quite probable, as his discourses when a preacher of Campbellism contained frequent allusions to a "new light" the religious world was soon to receive, evidently aimed to prepare the way for [the] imposition he soon after became a prominent actor in.

We understand the Mormon Church at Kirtland, in Lake county, is now divided into "Joeites" and "Rigdonites," the former being the most numerous. Rigdon visited Kirtland a few months since, and delivered a course of lectures in opposition to the course pursued by the late prophet Smith and the leading Mormons at Nauvoo, fully confirming the spiritual wife system if Smith, and the leading Mormons at Nauvoo, and a great many other vicious practices charged upon him by seceding Mormons. It is stated that Mrs. Joseph Smith, widow of the Prophet, is expected to take charge of the Mormon interests at Kirtland.

The history of Mormonism, and the facts disclosed at Pittsburgh, are a melancholy illustration of the power of fanaticism over the human mind. Millerism is akin to it, and the record of both infatuations will appear almost incredible to the next generation. -- Cleveland Herald.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, June 11, 1845. No. 15.

THE RIGDONITES. -- We publish in to-days paper, two communications from leading Rigdonites. In doing this, we wish our position to be distinctly understood.

We have no sympathy with Rigdon or his religion. We believe the one to be an impostor and the other a humbug; but this is merely our private opinion, publicly expressed. Those who choose to believe otherwise, have a right to do so, and we shall certainly not quarrel with them on account of their faith. Our business is not with the religion of the Mormons -- it is to expose their villainous practices. Whenever these are ferreted out, no matter by whom, our columns are open for their exposure. The articles which we publish this week, are rather intended as a defence of the Rigdonites, than as exposures of Mormon iniquity. -- For such purposes, we cannot in future lend our columns. We cannot consent, either directly or indirectly, to become the champions of Rigdonism. We hold no alliance with it, and wish it understood, that so far, only, as the Rigdonites may desire to expose the iniquity of the Mormon church, and leaders, can we consent to give them the use of our columns. For such purposes, they are always open to any person, who may send us a communication written in the proper spirit and in a respectable style.

We wish not to be misunderstood. -- We have no enmity towards the Rigdonites, nor need they fear any hostility from us so long as they conduct themselves as gentlemen and good citizens; but we cannot consent to cumber our columns with articles intended to defend them from the many foolish squibs thrown out by the Neighbor and the Mormons.

TROUBLE IN THE HOLY CITY. -- It is rumored that Bill Smith is making trouble for the Twelve in Nauvoo, and will either compel them, quietly, to surrender their power and submit to him, or else he will throw himself in open rebellion in consequence of the sickness and death of his wife; Smith has been comparatively quiet since his arrival in the city; but there have been many points in which he has disagreed with the heads of the church which has led to coldness if not hostility.

When Smith was on his way to the city he openly declared that the Twelve should reinstate Elder Brannan, the Editor of the New York Prophet, who had been recently disfellowshipped and said that if they were not willing he would compel them.

By the last Neighbor we perceive that he has succeeded, for Brigham Young has issued a circular announcing the fact that Brannan is restored; but it is done with evident reluctance.

It is gossiped about, that Smith will, in a decent time marry Emma, widow of his brother, the Prophet. She is known to be hostile to the Twelve and will lend her influence for their overthrow. If this union is effected we shall look for a complete revolution in the Holy City during the course of the summer. We do not know that such a change would, at all, alleviate the condition of the old settlers; but Bill Smith has some virtues which will render him less objectionable than the present rulers. He is generous, liberal and candid; but at the same time, one of the most licentious men in the nation.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II.
Warsaw, Illinois, June 18, 1845.
No. 16.

MORMON GULL-TRAPS.

There never has existed a class of men who displayed greater ingenuity in the invention of gull traps for the purpose of chiseling their deluded followers out of their hard earning, than have the Mormon leaders. The Temple has been building for nearly five years and during that time, at least a million dollars have been raised, by tithings from members of the church, yet scarcely any cash has been paid to the workmen on this structure. It has been but a gull trap. The Nauvoo House has also been, and will hereafter be the trap for the purpose of wringing from the poor their substance for the aggrandizement of the selfish leaders of the church. But of all the ridiculous means resorted to by the leaders, to raise the wind, none will compare with the sale of Patriarchal Blessings.

Bill Smith has been appointed Patriarch, and he shows himself in the start, a business man; for he advertises in the Neighbor, that he is ready to confer Patriarchal Blessings and in the usual style prays for the patronage of the saints. -- But we will let him speak for himself -- here is his advertisement as it appears in the last Neighbor:

NOTICE.

Dear Brethren and sisters: -- After having been for so long a time buffeted upon the waves of affliction; after having sacrificed all of this world's goods, by mobs at different times; and after having suffered so much sorrow and afflictions from the loss of friends and relatives, I still do not complain, but remain resigned to the will of God who knows what is best for his Saints.

And I hope that my brethren and sisters will remember their old and tried friend, (William Smith.) I am now ready to receive the calls of the Saints, and confer upon them their patriarchal blessings as they may desire. Residence on Water street, house formerly occupied by Mr. William Marks. WILLIAM SMITH.

MURDER IN NAUVOO. -- On Monday night last, a man by the name of Hodges, brother
to the men recently convicted at Burlington, was stabbed in Nauvoo, and died in a few hours.

The circumstances, as detailed to us, are as follows:

During the course of the trial at Burlington, a man by the name of Walker, stated on the witness stand, that there
was a gang of robbers about Nauvoo, who had made ocertures to him to join them, and implicated the two Hodges, who
were under trial, and also their brothers living in Nauvoo.

The officers immediately started to arrest the Hodges, which they did about twelve o'clock on Monday night. After the arrest, a man called the brother of the man who was arrested, but, and as soon as he stepped out of the room, stabbed him so severely, that he died of the wound in a few hours.

On being asked by his mother if he knew who had stabbed him, he is said to have replied "Yes, it was one of my best friends." This is all that is known in relation to the matter. It is however, suspected that one of the gang, being fearful that he would turn State's evidence, did the deed. The Hodges who was stabbed resided a short time at Mechanicsville, in this county.

P. S. Another statement -- and which we presume is nearer correct -- is that Hodges had just returned from Burlington, where he had been to testify on behalf of his brothers, and that he was murdered to prevent his making disclosures, which he is said to have threatened.

The Hodges Convicted.

We learn, direct from Burlington, that the argument in the trial of the Hodges was closed about 12 o'clock on Saturday night last, when the jury retired, and at 8 o'clock on Saturday morning brought in a verdict of guilty. The sentence was then pronounced and on the 15th of July set as the day of execution.

Note: This article was reprinted in the July 7, 1845 issue of the Pittsburgh Gazette. See June 8th and June 13th issues of that paper for two letters, written from Illinois, giving information on the murder, the Hodges, etc.

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, July 2, 1845. No. 18.

THE LATE MURDER IN NAUVOO.

We have nothing important to add to our statement of last week en relation to the murder in Nauvoo. The name of the murdered man was Irvine Hodges. It appears from the statement of the Neighbor that he had been to Burlington to witness the trial of his brothers; but it does not appear that he was a witness in the case. The neighbor also says that although the blows and shrieks were jeard at a little distance, yet no trace could be found of the assassin or assassins.

It is further added, that Hodges was asked if he knew who murdered him, to which he replied, "it was, as I supposed, my best friend;" but would not give the name of the murderer. This is rather an improbable story.

There is nystery about this transaction and we believe it will never be unfolded. It is a chapter in the secret history of the Holy City, which can only be read by the initiated. That a man mortally wounded should refuse to give the name of his assailant, having it in his power to do so, is incredible. We believe he did give the name, but it has been suppressed by those who heard it.

PATRIARCH BILL SMITH, brother of the Prophet, whose wife died about four weeks since, was again married on last Sunday week -- having been a widower about 18 days. His bride is about 16 years of age and he is 35. Bill will do very well for a father in the church but his wife won't do for mother. Wonder if Bill was not engaged before his former wife died.

SPLIT AT NAUVOO. -- The division between Bill Smith and the Twelve appears to be growing wider every day. A gentleman who was in Nauvoo, at the time of the late murder states, that the Twelvites charged the crime on the Smithites and vice versa.

In the last Neighbor appears a long article in relation to the power and authority of the Patriarch. It labors to prove that Smith has no more power than formerly and is evidently intended to sap the foundation of the pretensions set up by him on account of his Patriarchal office. Bill will be a troublesome customer to the Brethren.

Note 1: William Smith's wife, Caroline Grant Smith, died at Nauvoo on May 22, 1845. Her funeral was conducted by Orson Pratt, in Nauvoo. on May 24th. Reportedly William did not choose to attend the ceremonies. William's second legal marriage was performed by Brigham Young on June 22nd in Nauvoo. The bride was Mary Jane Rollins (1829-1880), who was subsequently married to Frank Williamson and W. N. Taylor. She was in her seventeenth year when Brigham married her to William. William gave her a patriarchal blessing on July 7, 1845 at Nauvoo (recorded under her new married name) in which Mary Jane was assured that she was (or had become part of) "the stock of the Royal family and of the covenant seed of promise" -- that she had become "the companion of him who has been called as the Servant of the most high God."

Note 2: William Smith and Mary Jane Rollins evidently did not share in connubial bliss for very long, before a major problem arose in their household. See the Sept. 3, 1845 issue of the Warsaw Signal for a report on their deteriorating maritial situation.

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, July 9, 1845. No. 19.

TRIAL FOR MURDER

... [A. J. Stewart] was present in Nauvoo when the prisoners and their brother were arrested, it was just after midnight, went to Amos Hodges' on Monday night, they refused to be taken, they were taken next morning, they said that if we would wait till morning they would meet us at any place we should mention and go into a trial. I looked into the house and saw that Amos had a knife and pistol, Stephen had a pistol and knife in his clothes, there was a light in the room, could not see William whether he had any weapons or not, they said they would shoot any one who came in, they had the weapons holding in their hands. ...

(under construction)

ANOTHER HORRIBLE MURDER AND ROBBERY.

We learn by a gentleman who arrived in this place on Sunday evening last on the Steamer St. Croix, that Col. Davenport was murdered at his residence on Rock Island, on the 4th of July ...

(under construction)

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, July 16, 1845. No. 20.

DESTRUCTION OF NAUVOO FORETOLD. --James Collin Brewster, the Prophet of whom with due reverence, we ventured to speak in our last number, is about putting to press one of the lost books of Esdras; which has been disclosed to him by special revelation. We have had the great privilege of reading a portion of this revelation, and in our humble opinion, if there be no mistake in the genuineness of the revelation, it very plainly foretells the destruction of Nauvoo. The prophet, as is understood, foretold the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith; which fact is calculated to produce a deep solitude in regard to the fulfillment of the present revelation. The strange events which are now being crowded together in Nauvoo and its neighborhood. -- to wit, the murder of Leisi and Miller, by two Mormons of the name of Hodges -- their trial and conviction -- the violent death of another brother at Nauvoo, killed, it is supposed, because he threatened to expose the outrages of a gang to which he belonged -- the imprisonment of yet another at Carthage for stealing -- of Dr. Marshal of Carthage, by the Jack Mormon sheriff, Deming -- the number of Mormons in Adams county and other jails in the State, for alleged crimes, -- all these facts are pointed out by the followers of the prophet Brewster, to show, that there is a storm of indignation gathering among the people, which will soon sweep Nauvoo, and its inhabitants 'with the besom of destruction." Nor is the calamities to end here. The people who are so used as instruments in the destruction of Nauvoo, are also to be destroyed, unless they repent, and gather, and depart for California, where, it is foretold, - that there will be an immense gathering together of the true Saints under the lead of the aforesaid Prophet James Collin Brewster.

The Book of Esdras, here noticed, ought to have a great run. -- San. Jour.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, July 23, 1845. No. 21.

From the Burlington Hawkeye

THE EXECUTION,

The brothers, William and Stephen Hodges were hung in this town on Tuesday last. From dawn until the time appointed for he execution the principal avenues to town were crowded with people The Steamer Mermaid brought down a large number from Bloomington -- the Stockoquon, after bringing an immense load from the place whose name she bears, proceeded to Oquawka, from whence she landed at our wharf a crown from Illinois. In the meantime one of the Steam ferry boats from Fort Madison -- the Caroline -- came loaded to the guards with passengers -- the "New Purchase," with a large multitude from Nauvoo, and places adjacent, arrived too late for the passengers to witness the execution. - Long before the time appointed our streets were literally filled with men, women, and children....

There is, as yet, nothing ascertained by the public in relation to the murder of Irvine Hodges; but a portion of the Brethren pretend to say that the matter will be developed

We learn that last week the widow of the murdered man visited Nauvoo, and was there informed that the murderer was known and had left; but was expected to return as soon as the excitement had passed away. Before visiting Nauvoo she was reported to be very hostile; but on returning appeared perfectly satisfied that the saints were not to blame for the transaction. It appears from this that the leaders have manufactured a very plausible story and have palmed it off on her, with complete success. It was expected after they said on the gallows that the brethren found means to keep them still by threatening that if they did confess their whole family would be murdered. In addition to this, it appears that Amos Hodges who was under arrest in Nauvoo was permitted to escape or held as a hostage, for he has not been publicly heard of since the murder of his brothers.

It is rumored that Bill Smith prophecied that Irvine Hidges would not lice another day, on the night before he was murdered. In consequence of this, it is said that a writ has been threatened to take the Mormon Patriarch.

Note: See the July 17, 1845 issue of the Burlington Hawk-Eye for the original of the lengthy report of the Hodge brothers' execution in Iowa. See the Aug. 7, 1845 issue of the Springfield Sangamo Journal for a reprint of the second article.

Vol II. Warsaw, Illinois, July 30, 1845. No. 22.

RUMORED ARREST OF THE DAVENPORT MURDERERS. -- The St. Louis New Era, of the 26th, states that a passenger who arrived in that city, from the Illinois River, reported that two of the murderers of Col. Davenport were arrested in Peoria, on last Sunday week, and a portion of the money described to have been taken from Col. Davenport found on their persons.

He also states, that one of the murderers had been taken in Knox county, who had Col. D's watch. He was beaten to death at the time of his capture; bur enough was got out of him to lead to the detection of the others. This is given as a mere rumor and wants confirmation.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol II.
Warsaw, Illinois, August 20, 1845.
No. 25.

THE TEMPLE. -- The last Neighbor announces the fact, that the last shingle has been laid on the Temple.
This building has been progressing for five years, and the Saints boast that it has cost $500,000, yet as an architectural burlesque they have covered
the structure with oak shingles. It seems to have been a part of their policy to use no material in their building, except such as could be
conveniently stolen from the neighboring Gentiles. Oak shingles on a building that cost $500,000, look very much like Corinthian pillars to a pig sty.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II.
Warsaw, Illinois, September 3, 1845.
No. 24.

MORE MORMON DELUSIONS. -- Several heads of families, with their
wives and children, left here in the steamer New Brunswick, this morning, on their route to Nauvoo. These deluded
people were comfortably settled on farms on the St. John River, and were living contented and happy until their minds
became unsettled by the Mormon preachers, who infest the upper districts of the country. Such was their anxiety to
journey towards the Holy City, that children. laboring under an attack of the measles were carried away by their
unhappy parents. These people will learn when too late, how cruelly they have been duped; but it is to be feared
their bitter repentance will not come in time to benefit the innocent children which their fanaticism has dragged
from home and country, & herd [off to] Nauvoo.

FROM NAUVOO. -- We learn that Patriarch Bill Smith has got into difficulty with his wife on account of his
being intimate with an English girl that lives in his family, and it is reported that his wife has left him.

On last Sunday week, Bill, from the stand, avowed
that the Spiritual Wife System was taught in Nauvoo secretly -- that he taught and practiced it, and he
was not in favor of making any secret of the matter. He said it was a common thing amongst the leaders and he for one was not ashamed of it. This bold
declaration created quite a sensation amongst the Saints and Bill is in hot water in consequence of it.
Note 1: The "wife" with whom William Smith had gotten "into difficulty with" was Mary Jane Rollins Smith, who was not quite seventeen when her domestic
troubles were made public. See the July 2, 1845 issue of the Signal for the announcement of her marriage to William.
According to Apostle John Taylor's journal, the new "plural" was Mary Ann Scheffield, whom William must have "married" near the end of August.
Apostle Williard Richards recorded in his diary, on Aug. 31, 1845 that William's previous wife "had left him."
Note 2: Mary Ann Scheffield is variously named in old records as Mary Ann Corington, Mary Ann Covington, Mary Ann Covington Scheffield,
Mary Ann Covington Sheffield, etc. William Smith administered her patriarchal blessing in Nauvoo in August, 1845; there her birth information is
given as Mar. 31, 1815, in Bedfordshire, England, and her parents as Barrvold and Elizabeth Corington. Her father is elsewhere listed as
Berrill Covington (1794-1881). Mary Ann subsequently married Joseph Albert Stratton and Chancey Walker West. As "Mary Ann West" she
testified in the 1893 "Temple Lot" case, that Brigham Young performed her "marriage" to William Smith, at Nauvoo, and that during the short
period she spent with William, he also married Mary Jones and Priscilla Morgridge. Mary Ann Covington Smith worked in the Times and Seasons
office -- see her journal, in the Lee Library, at BYU, for more details.
Note 3: Mary Jones has not yet been identified among the Mormon population living at Nauvoo in 1845, but William gave Priscilla a patriarchal
blessing in which her parents are listed as John and Mary Morgridge (or Magridge) and her birth information is given as Mar. 11, 1822, in Wiltshire,
England. Priscilla later married a Mr. Lowery and perhaps lived in Missouri. Mary Jones may have been the "Brighamite wife" whom
William said died before the Mormons finished departing Nauvoo in 1846.
Note 4: Contemporary Mormon periodicals and most later LDS histories ignore totally the
Aug. 17, 1845 "spiritual wifery" speech
William delivered in Nauvoo, under the informal title of "the gospel according to William" or the
"first chapter of the epistle of St. William." He was accompanied by Apostle John Taylor, who recorded in his journal
that he "felt pained and distressed when William was speaking. William Clayton heard William Smith's sermon and
recorded in his journal, that William's "object was evidently to raise an influence against the Twelve... for he
intimated in strong terms that they were practicing such things [polygamy] in secret." An excerpt from the sermon,
recorded at the time it was prepared, reads: "... that is the kind of a spirit I possess, it is the kind of
religion I feel in my soul: if a sister gives me her hand upon the Spiritual Wife system to share with me the fate
& destinies of time and eternity, I will not be ashamed of her before the public. That [which] I do in the secret
chamber I would do in the broad daylight. And now what of the spiritual wife doctrine, so often talked about. Suppose
I preach you a little of it... I am just the man to get into this business, and get out of it too, for I am not the
author of God's works, nor am I to blame, for what he has revealed. So a great fuss is made about Spiritual Wives...
if I am seen riding in my carriage with a female, those very characters that are up to the knees... [in polygamy]
point their finger and say "there goes Bro. William and one of his women." I pray to God to curse such hypocrites."

Vol. II.
Warsaw, Illinois, September 10, 1845.
No. 25.

BILL SMITH AND THE BRETHREN. -- We have no further news from
Nauvoo, in relation to the split between Bill Smith and the Twelve. The recklessness of the Patriarch has evidently
given great uneasiness to the Leaders, who fear that he will expose their licentiousness in such a manner as will
lead to the complete explosion of the whole humbug; and therefore every effort will be made to reconcile and silence
him by bribes and persuasion. It will not do to attempt to drive or coerce him into measures, for such a course will
only exasperate him and lead to more reckless acts on his part. We hope that Bill will have the firmness and honesty
to continue to preach what he practices.

THE MUMMIES. -- The editor of the Reveille, in one of his letters from the Upper Mississippi, gives the following account of his interviews with Joe Smith's mother, who keeps the Mummies at Nauvoo.

Her story in regard to the mummies, (learned from Joe,) is about as follows: It seems that, for the express purpose of corroborating the 'brass plates' which were one day to be dug up, and translated as the 'Book of Mormon' the angel of the Lord, three thousand years ago, appeared to Joseph in Egypt and delivered to him a wooden case, containing a roll of papyrus, which was to be buried by him with the family of one of the patriarchs; that Joseph did so, despositing the case on the Queen's breast, where it lay until the discovery of the 'brass plates,' the Lord then causing the bodies to be discovered also and conveyed with the identical deposit of Joseph into the hands of 'Joe.' Joe 'never had six months' schoolin' in his born days, but as soon as 'the was g'in him,' he could 'translate any thing;' accordingly having already deciphered the plates, he made short work of the hieroglyphics, and his interpretation which, while it fully proves the Book of Mormon, would enlighten even unto amazement, the Champollions of the Bibliotheque du Roi and the British Museum! Of all the bare-faced jargon that ever was uttered, the grave relation of the poor old woman was the most ridiculous; and while her pitiable conviction of its entire truth really gladdened the heart, it would be impossible to repress one's regret that the impudent impostor had left the world, without at least one especial good kicking for having so deceived his own mother. Not a circle, serpent, altar, ibis, or any of the familiar and now understood idiographic character of the Egyptian, but this shrewd yet ignorant knave had given his own interpretation to, and so committed the latter to his followers, not only braving but confidently defying inevitable exposure. The whole thing is too gross to bear patiently, too painful to laugh at; somehow or other the delusion of this bent and white headed old creature has more in it to disgust one with the memory of Smith than all his other humbug and even crime.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II.
Warsaw, Illinois, September 17, 1845.
No. 26.

DEATH OF MINOR R. DEMING. -- Minor R. Deming, late Sheriff of
Hancock county and Brigadier General of this Brigade, died at Carthage on Wednesday morning last, about nine o'clock.
His disease was conjestive fever. He was buried on Thursday last in Quincy, by the side of his brother.

Deming, for the last year, has been very conspicuous in our county, from the fact of his having taken an active part in favor of the Mormons. From this cause he has been one of the most unpopular men in Hancock amongst the old citizens. Since Dr. Marshall was murdered by him he had become utterly odious, and was never spoken of except in terms of abhorrence; but he is gone now, and we have no desire to follow him into the grave.

THE MORMONS. -- The Lee County Democrat is beginning to make itself heard in opposition to the villainous fanatics of Nauvoo. The editor says:

A gentleman residing at Nauvoo, called on us this week, and in the course of conversation about the Hodges, said he was persuaded that the man who killed Irvine Hodges is well known to many of the elect in that place.

Our informant, who is a Mormon, speaks in bitter terms of the conduct of the leaders at Nauvoo, and regrets his inability to leave the place. To use his own language "it is a perfect pandemonium, and the wrath of an offended God will inevitable descend upon it sooner or later.

Proofs multiply so rapidly, of the many acts of villainy which are perpetrated, or originated in Nauvoo, that our decided opinion is, that the presence of the Mormons is incompatible with the safety and well being of those in their vicinity.

Notes: (forthcoming)

WARSAW SIGNAL
Extra.]
Warsaw, Illinois, September 18, 1845.
[Extra.

Another Brutal Murder.

We are called upon to record another murder of a most brutal character, committed by the Mormons on yesterday. About 12 o'clock a party of ten men were riding across the prairie near Bear Creek, where they fell in with the Sheriff's Mormon posse. The latter immediately fired on them without provocation, and wounded a horse and one of the party, a young Irishman named Sam'l M'Bratney, a teamster in the employ of Gould & Mellen; shot him, and after he was down, stabbed him with a sword in several places, and cut his throat and head in a most revolting manner. They then left him in the open prairie, taking his horse with the,

Young M'Bratney was one of the most quiet, inoffensive and industrious young men in this community, and was respected and esteemed by all who knew him. His parents reside near Clayton in Adams County...

(under construction)

Note: For more on McBratney's murder, see the the letter from Warsaw, published in the Pittsburgh Gazette of
Sept. 30, 1845 and an article in the
Oct. 8, 1845 issue of the Painesville
Telegraph,

WARSAW SIGNAL
Extra.]
Warsaw, Illinois, September 30, 1845.
[Extra.

Arrest of Col. Davenport's Murderers,

We learn by the Western Belle, that on Sunday night last, three of Col. Davenport's murders, who are Mormons, were
arrested at the mouth of Devil's Creek, Lee county, Iowa.

The circumstances which led to the arrest are these: About two weeks since, a gun was accidently discovered in a pool near the house of a Mormon by the name of Redmond [sic, Redding?]. Further search being made, a pistol was also discovered. These were taken to Fort Madison, and there the gun was identified as being the fowling piece which belonged to Col. Davenport. Col. D's son was sent for, and on his appearance appearance, not only identified the gun, but also produced the mate to the pistol. -- Writs were immediately issued for the apprehension of the two Redmond's who, hearing that the Sheriff was coming for them, collected ten of their gang to resist the service of process. The Sheriff being apprised of this, ordered out the Fort Madison Military Company and proceeded to Redmond's house on Sunday night last, where they surrounded the premises and took the scroundrels prisoner. The Redmonds are the men who harbored the Hodges on the night before the murder of [Miller &] Leisse. There is said to be other suspicious circumstances which will make out a strong case against the Redmonds and one of their party...

(under construction)

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II.
Warsaw, Illinois, October 15, 1845.
No. 30.

THE BATTLE.

... [After the reception of this letter], the army was drawn up in column on a piece of high ground lying between
the camp and the city. While in this position, a few shots were fired from a breastwork the Mormons had erected
during the night, and the fire was returned from our artillery. So soon as all was ready, the Warsaw Riflemen were
divided into two sections, and deployed on the right and left as flankers. Captain Newton's Lima Guards, with Captain
Walker's gun, was ordered to take position a quarter of a mile in front of the camp, and employ the attention of the
Mormons at their breastwork, -- and from which they kept a constant fire, while the plain body of the army wheeled
to the left, passed down across the La Harpe road through a cornfield, thence across Mulholland street, thence bore
to the right through an orchard, and on to the city. So soon as the army was fairly under way, Captain Newton's
company, and the piece of artillery with it, were brought upon the rear. This march was made directly across and in
face of the enemy's fire, and within good cannon range, yet not a man was injured.

"Arriving on the verge of the city, the army, all except the artillery and flankers, was halted, while the latter advanced and commenced an attack on the Mormon works, from which they had been firing during the whole time of the march. A hot fire was kept up by the artillery from both sides for fifteen or twenty minutes. During this time, the Mormons did no execution on our ranks, while the balls from our cannon rattled most terrifically through the houses in the city.

At length a fire of small arms was heard from some Mormons who had taken position on the extreme left in a cornfield. Immediately, Colonel Smith's regiment was ordered up and drove the assailants before them. The second regiment was in the mean time ordered up to the support of the artillery. By this time the action became general.

"The Mormons were in squads in their houses, and poured in their shots with the greatest rapidity. Our men were also divided off into squads, took shelter where they could best find it, and returned the fire with great energy. The greater part of the first regiment had no better shelter than a cornfield and a worm fence; the second regiment was open ground, having but two or three small houses to
cover the whole body; while our artillery was entirely exposed.

The firing of small arms was continued for half an hour, during which time our men steadily advanced, driving the enemy, in many instances, from their shelter. For a short time their fire was almost entirely silenced; but, unfortunately, at this juncture our cannon balls were exhausted; and our commander, deeming it imprudent to risk a further advance without these necessary instruments, ordered the men to be drawn off. This v. as done in good order, and in slow time the whole force returned to the camp.

In this action we had about five hundred men engaged, and four pieces of artillery; two hundred men and one piece of artillery having been left at the camp for its protection. Our loss in this engagement, as well as the subsequent skirmishes, will be found in the report of the surgeons hereto appended. Most of our men throughout the action displayed remarkable coolness and determination, and, we have no doubt, did great execution. We believe if our cannon balls had held out ten minutes longer, we should have taken the city; but when the action commenced, we had but sixty-one balls. The battle lasted from the time the first feint was made until our men were drawn off -- an hour and a quarter. Probably there is not on record an instance of a longer-continued militia fight. ( ! )

The Mormons stood their ground manfully; but from the little execution done by them, we infer that they were not very cool or deliberate. Their loss is uncertain, as they have taken especial pains to conceal the number of their dead and wounded. They acknowledged but three dead and ten wounded. Among the killed is their master spirit, Captain Anderson, of the fifteen-shooter rifle company. Their force in the fight was from three to four hundred.

They had all the advantages, having selected their own positions; and we were ordered to take such as we could get. Sometimes our men could get no cover, and the artillery was all the time exposed, while theirs was under cover.

On Saturday, after the battle, the Anties commenced intrenching their camp, and on Sunday made it secure against
the shots of the enemy's cannon, which frequently reached or passed over it. On Sunday, the Anties cut part of the
corn from the field, on the left of the La Harpe road, to prevent the Mormons from taking cover in it. While thus
engaged, the Mormons fired on the guard which was protecting the corn-cutters. The fire was returned by the guard,
and kept up at long distance for two or three hours. In this skirmish one of our men was badly wounded. The loss of
the enemy is not known. On Monday, a party of Mormons crept up through the weeds to a piece of high ground, and
fired at our camp, wounding three men, none seriously. Their balls were nearly spent when they struck. On Sunday
morning, after the battle, a powder plot was dug up on the La Harpe road, which the army was expected to pass. On
Wednesday, another ;vas dug up on the same road nearer the city. Several of these plots were discovered near the
Temple, and in other parts of the city.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II.
Warsaw, Illinois, October 22, 1845.
No. 31.

PATRIARCH BILL SMITH'S PROCLAMATION.

We have received an extraordinary document, entitled a 'Proclamation,' signed by William Smith, Patriarch, and one of the Twelve. The object which Smith appears to have in view, is to expose the conduct of the present corrupt leaders of the Church; and to put them down, and build up himself. He speaks of Brigham Young as a tyrant, unsurpassed by any that has existed since the days of Nero -- complains bitterly of the treatment which he and the Smith family generally, have received from his hands, and denounces him as an usurper.

In this document, Smith repudiates the Spritual Wife Doctrine, and accuses Young, Taylor, and Heber C. Kimball, of introducing this doctrine and its corrupt practices, into the Church. He urges his opposition to this doctrine as one of the reasons for the enmity of Young and his associates against him.

He intimates that Toung was concerned in the murder of Irvine Hodges, and that the two Hodges who were hung in Burlington, were no more gulity than the heads of the Mormon Church, who had them given up to save themselves.

Altogether, this expose of Smith's is full of interest, and rich in developments, -- which all tend to confirm the accusations repeatedly brought against the Mormons by their neighbors.

As we propose next week to give it in full to our readers, a more extended notice is at present unnecessary.

MORE STEALING.

One day last week, six Saints were detected in the act of hauling away corn belonging to Mr. B. Clark of Carthage. The corn had been transferred to Mr. C. by a Mormon named Stears, to secure a debt due from the latter to the former. -- Notwithstanding this transfer, Stears sent six teams to take away the corn.

The teamsters, who were all Mormons, were all arrested and brought back to Carthage; when, on examination, it was found one of them had on a pair of drawers, a cap, and pair of boots, which were the property of Mr. Connelly, and had been stolen from him some months since. The fellow who had them on was held to bail to answer the charge of larceny. Another of the trespassers was recognized for stealing lumber.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, October 29, 1845. No. 32.

A PROCLAMATION.

And faithful Warning to all the Saints scattered around in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Salem, New Bedford, Jewell, Peterborough, Gilsom, St. Louis, Nauvoo, and elsewhere in the United States;.Also to those residing in the different parts of Europe and in the Islands of the seas.

To all such, your Father and Patriarch sends this Greeting -- He speaks to you in the spirit of love and christian kindness, believing it a duty he owes to his God, to do all he can to save from spiritual ruin the thousands of his friends and fellow mortals, whom misrepresentation and false pretension may contrive to lead astray from the pure and holy paths of righteousness as pointed out by our church.

I take this course towards my brethren in all meekness of spirit, patience, and forbearance, without aught of malice or revenge, that they may understand the true reason of my silent course of conduct during the last summer, and the cause of my present position.

I will state unequivocally at the outset, that it is my firm and sincere conviction, that, since the murder of my two brothers, usurpation and anarchy, and spiritual wickedness in high places, have crept into the church, with the cognizance and acquiescence of those whose solemn duty it was to guardedly watch against such estate of things. Under the reign of one whom I may call a Pontius Pilate, under the reign I say of this B. Young, no greater tyranny ever existed since the days of Nero. He has no other justification than ignorance to cover the most cruel acts -- acts disgraceful to anyone bearing the stamp of humanity; and this being has associated around him, men, bound by oaths and covenants, who are reckless enough to commit almost any crime, or fulfill any command that their self-crowned "head" might give them.

At the time of the death of my two brothers, I was laboring with all my energies in the eastern cities, where I had been busily engaged for about three years, under the direction and advice of my brother Joseph, when a letter reached me from Willard Richards, who was acting as church clerk and one of the Twelve, advising me not to return to the scene of the recent and events in the west, as it might continue the excitement, and endanger not only my own life, but the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of the Saints; such also was the advice and counsel of many of my friends. This advice, together with a sick family on my hands, influenced me to remain still a while longer in the east. In the meantime, as all the Saints well know, I was engaged in publishing a paper in New York entitled "The Prophet," got up by my own labors and carried on with as much earnest zeal as I could possibly employ upon it. All at once, early in the spring, whom should I encounter but Mr. Parley P. Pratt, who had come on from the west, with specific authority from the quorum of the Twelve, to take charge of all the printing, etc., without a single provision with respect to my own personal rights, relative to any outlay I had subjected myself to in getting up the paper, materials for printing, etc. etc.; to take charge, also, of the entire presidency of the Eastern Churches; while, at the same time, the right of the presidency was held by a joint occupancy in the quorum of the Twelve. In consequence, however, of my wife's health continuing very precarious, I concluded to leave that scene of action and return to Nauvoo, leaving all in the hands of Parley P. Pratt, and S. Brennan, which latter had been heretofore a friend. I must confess that the whole of this proceeding appeared to me very much like a deep laid plan to get the power of everything under their own control. Still I was extremely reluctant to believe my brethren so ungrateful men with whom I had been associated so long, being more over willing to obey council, I gave all up, and trusted to their own honesty. -- On my return, however, my suspicions were strengthened, for I found that, for some frivolous cause, the "Twelve" had cut off a brother of the name of G. J. Adams, who it was well known was a strong and sincere friend of mine and also S. Brennan. Still I was anxious to get rid of my suspicions, and I set about making the most minute enquiry into the matter, but no substantial reason presented itself for the course taken. Brennan was soon restored. It appeared to me, from these various circumstances, strongly suspicious that these [assumers] of power intended nothing more or less than to render me powerless. Still I struggled on, hoping for the best, and that all things would come out right eventually, and I held my peace, -- when on coming into council with the brethren, I was asked "are you satisfied, brother William?" evidently manifesting thereby a suspicion on their part that it was not likely I could possibly be so, and that all had not been right. Yet I replied that I was willing to abide the council of my brethren and be satisfied for a season. They assumed a friendly feeling and would frequently mention what they intended to do, and what is was in their hearts to do, for me and the rest of the Smith family. Soon I spoke on the stand, but with very oppressed feelings, which, however, I always endeavored not to disclose, while news was arriving from the east, by letters and various other ways, to the Council; and others, containing eulogiums on the boasted righteousness of Parley P. Pratt, and condemning the acts of his predecessors in the preaching and government of the church in that section of the country, when it is well known by all the eastern Saints that when those men went on all was peace and harmony, and that I had labored hard for three years to build up the church, and for the last year to wrest it from the influence of "Rigdonism." And further it can be proved that B. Young and P. P. Pratt were the first to preach and to practice the "spiritual wife" doctrine, in the city of Boston and other places, my descent from any such doctrine of course gave annoyance, as did also my exclaiming against the too common practice among the elders of using profane oaths. I earnestly appealed to them as to whether it could possibly by consonant with the garb of a minister of the gospel, of those who build Temples and Nauvoo Houses, thus to indulge in improper swearing. That the Lord would not prosper their proceedings in such a spirit, nor would they inherit a temporal or spiritual salvation. In this appeal I was opposed by John E. Page. On another occasion I spoke in behalf of sister Emma, and the claims of the Smith family, but this was generally laughed at. I opposed also the whittling, whistling, and beastly anointing, practiced upon strangers, and driving away from Nauvoo the doctors and lawyers, telling them, which I did in a spirit of warning, that such courses must bring swift destruction on the people. In return for these good intentions I was called a dissenter, and the charge brought against me of trying to raise a division in the church. My remarks had little or no effect, for again and again it was repeated on the stand by Kimble, Young, Taylor, and others, that lawyers must leave, for it was then a time of peace, and that if they did not they should be offered as a sacrifice of smoking meat, as was practiced by the heathens in ancient times, to appease the wrath of some evil spirit, and that as for the doctors they were all a perfect nuisance. To all these elevated and charitable thoughts and expressions, the congregation responded "Amen." All this was entirely repugnant to my feelings and I could not avoid manifesting my dissent; the consequence was, that I was informed I had better look out, or I should be cut off from the church. It was a sacrifice indeed to be silent.

It was about this time that the Hodge affair took place, and I verily believe that the very men who were engaged in that horrid murder were the most efficient in doing all they possibly could to get the Hodges' hanged, and to get Amos Hodge into the territory of Iowa, that he might share the fate of his brothers, whether guilty or not. But to return to the matters of the church, I published a short notice on the subject of the office of patriarch: very soon it was scanned and criticised, and without even my knowledge or consent, the office declared to be equal only to any common father over his family; which was all a perfect burlesque on common sense, robbing me of my lawful rights in the Smith family, rights by lineage, etc. The phrase "rights by lineage" become a common byword, a matter of sport on the stand, and in private council a laugh. Mother Smith's mind being greatly wrought upon by these troubles, was carried away in a vision, and on her relation of what she had seen. Brigham Young had the refinement of feeling and consideration to ridicule on the stand the whole matter and marveled that the church could entertain for a moment the crazy manifestations of an old woman. Such remarks, be it borne in mind, proceeded from one who pretends to hold the key of telling where the royal blood is, and claims a standing at the head of a church raised up by a prophet, of whom mother Smith was the parent, and which mother had passed through whole seas of affliction. A copy of this vision will soon appear, and then we shall see and understand the value of the priesthood of that individual who can thus talk of mother Smith, as also of the propriety of a certain John Smith and others who find it to their interest to ridicule rather than reflect. But to return from this digression. I took it upon me to counsel the police of the city, advise them to be more merciful, and not hasten men into Iowa to be hanged, but to give them a chance with others whom I believe to be equally guilty. I received for answer to my advice and counsel, from one of the police, that he did not care a d__n for anything I had to say; that he had received his instructions, and should carry them out. Although some words passed on the occasion, I believe this particular member of the police was innocent of any intentional harm. The result again of this was, that I was cautioned to look out for my life.

A horrid circumstance took place on the following evening, which I must relate. -- Arvine [sic] Hodge was crossing a field-path to his lodgings, when he was waylaid and killed, being cut, beat, and mangled in a most shocking manner, within twenty rods of Brigham Young's house, which at the time was surrounded by his own personal police guard, who, as some of them acknowledged, stood within fifty yards of where the murder was committed, and distinctly heard the murderous blows, and the cries of the victim. Sister Young, also, said that she heard them more than once. Young was not at home when the deed was done, but, it is said that in honor to him the murdered man with cries for help, ran some twenty rods, and fell in the road before the house and expired.

It is said that although he had his senses til the last, he would say no more about his murderer than that he was a friend; and called on Young to lay hands upon him. This story was told by Young's police, who, be it remembered, stood within fifty yards of where this awful murder was perpetrated, who heard the blows given, and also the cries for help, but who, at the same time, saw no man or men, who could have performed the awful deed.

It will be recollected that, on the examination, it was ascertained that Arvine Hodge had received four fatal stabs in the side, each blow sundering a rib, and sufficient to cause instant death, besides the appearance of cruel bruises made by heavy clubs upon the head. It is true no doubt that he struggled hard for life, but is it probable, I would ask, that with such fatal wounds from the knife, and heavy blows from the assassin's clubs, that he could have retained physical strength enough to run for aid, or mental power enough to ask for the laying on of hands? And especially for one whom he had every reason to believe to be his most inveterate enemy? It was at this juncture of these sad proceedings, that the information reached my ears, advising me to keep a good guard about my house, or I might very probably share the fate of Arvine Hodge. In consequence of such information, I summoned my kind friends who watched over my safety for two or three weeks; The necessity of my doing this prompted me to write a letter to B. Young, stating to him that I did not feel my safe in the hands of his police. The answer returned to me was from John Taylor, to the effect that I should meet the council the same day at six o'clock in the evening. Accordingly at the hour specified, I repaired to the place of meeting, not expecting, however, to find any one present save the "Twelve," or the Bishops. But on entering the room on the third story of the Masonic Hall, what was my surprize to find some fifty or sixty policemen all armed with their Bowie knives, pistols, and hickory clubs. How much more too, was my surprize, when after my entrance I found the door guarded, and the man whom I had supposed a particular friend of mine, chuckling with sparkling eyes to think he had me in his power.

I was called upon by Brigham Young to make known my grievances. I answered the call, and in fervent tones both long and loud, spoke of my grievances and of my two brothers' deaths, and of the almost entire desolation of the remnant of my father's family; -- that I had returned from a long mission, and wished to settle in the land of my ancestors, and that where the bodies of my brother's lay, I wished to live in peace, and claim the protection due to me. I told them that I considered my right to teach the church altogether unimpeachable; as was also my right to counsel the police, and to assist in controlling the public sentiment. Further, that if the brethren did not want me or my councils, to announce such a sentiment and I would leave them. Let, said I, the Twelve say so -- Let the Bishops say so -- Let the police say so, and I am gone! But mark it, said I, where I go, there also the Smith family go, and with them also goes the Priesthood.

After I had spoken for nearly an hour to the foregoing purpose, Brigham Young arose, and although when he came into the room he had given me his hand, with a smiling countenance, launched forth in the following strain, with boisterous boldness:

"I will let William Smith know that he has no right to counsel this church, for I am the man! I will let William Smith know also, that he shall not counsel the police; furthermore, that where the Smith family goes the church will not go, nor the priesthood either! And I will let William Smith know that I am the president and head of this church" and strange to say all the police and the bishops, and the "Twelve" who were present, said thereunto, "amen." The conclusion I drew from all this was, that it was an intentional hint to me that I had better leave. Furthermore he stated that Joseph Smith had revealed to him a mystery concerning the Royal Blood, that none of the rest of his brethren knew anything about; that little Joseph his eldest son was not the prophet of the church, nor ever would be, and that if he were to say so, it would be aiming a dagger at his life's blood. What reflection could possibly suggest itself to me, after such a statement? What else then that he was an ambitious and an ungrateful tyrant? It was now almost dark when I arose and made a few corrections -- the brow-storm grew more palpable, not a smile, not a pleasant look greeted me, as I looked around on my old associates. Among those in the house I observed fifty or sixty of my well known brethren, but not one smile, amen, or consoling word reached me. I tempered my remarks as well and as charitably as I could: which forbearance was answered with remarks from Young to the effect that the police were good men, and obedient to the council.

Various circumstances induced me to believe myself hedged in, and I looked at the door, and at the window, but with a very faint hope of escape; it was death to jump from the window, and the armed police prevented all escape from the door, so I sunk back and cried in the very agony of spirit, "Lord have mercy upon me, and deliver me from the evil hands of those who plot against me." At this juncture Brigham Young said, "if brother William agrees to uphold the police, and make himself one with them, why they, the police would uphold him." To this I agreed and obtained a vote for my protection. It was now quite dark, and wagons and carriages were all in readiness, so that with the greatest ease I could have been sent on a long mission, to preach the Gospel. It was at this time that I determined to leave to city as soon as possible, and to preserve peace, and avoid any outbreak of feeling, I cautiously kept my own counsel. Rumors however were again spread about by malcontent rivals, that the saints had better be cautiously on their guard; with respect to me, for that I intended neither more nor less than to bring about a division in the Church. It was to allay the feeling that such reports might excite that I preached the notorious, so called, "spiritual wife" sermon, a discourse so modified however as to be perfectly consonant with my own feelings, and entirely unobjectionable to the pure principles of morality and religion. I had another object in this which was to expose to the light the principles of men who delighted to practice in private that which in public they strenuously deprecated. The talk however still continued 'look out,' 'look out,' and efforts were still made to render my position as disagreeable and unhappy as possible. I still continued on in the consciousness of the purity of my motives, and did not reveal my wounded feelings even to my mother, though all the time the malevolence of my rivals was aiming shafts at me, by spreading tales even so far back as my very boyhood, in connection with my brother Joseph, things which had been passed into oblivion long, long ago. -- Furthermore, so strong was the spirit of prejudice that brethren and sisters were even advised to go to others instead of to me to obtain their spiritual blessings.

A libelous article was published by John Taylor, on my Patriarchal office, which reached my mother's ears and occasioned her much mental trouble, and loss of rest. To such an extent was her mind affected that she sent to find me, and when I entered her room, she exclaimed, "My son, my son, you are alive yet! In a vision I saw you in a room under the guard of enemies, and awoke fearful of some sad result." A singular coincidence with the very situation in which I had been placed, but which had been kept entirely secret from her.

From this time the Saints may understand that the proceedings of those who had assumed the authority were kept entirely hidden from me. The disposition of the Temple funds, counseling with regard to the affairs of the church, I have had nothing to do with. Other men have been sought out to act in my place, without the thought of waiting for "dead men's shoes." All these things combined together served to convince me that a conspiracy had been entered into, to disrobe me of my power, and I learned that all the quorums of the church had agreed to sustain Brigham Young by their votes and influence, as the perpetual head of the church, and sole control of its matters. That the church funds have been misapplied, I have no hesitation in asserting, for of necessity I have been made acquainted with the fact, that several houses have been filled up with women who have been secretly married to Brigham Young, H. C. Kimble, and Willard Richards -- women with little children in their arms, who had no means of support except from the tithing funds.

And now brethren, I leave it to you to say what shall be done? My counsel is that you at once stop tithing; further my sincere and earnest advice is that the brethren locate themselves in all large branches of the church throughout the United States, remembering that America is the land of Zion, the land promised to the seed of Joseph. Furthermore let the brethren content themselves by building up plain and comfortable meeting houses for the worship of the Lord, until we can [inhabit] the temples we have built, and let all honest saints remain at their homes, and not be led astray by false hopes and promises, either to California or elsewhere. I am told that the plans of getting the tabernacle canvas was all concocted in secret, and with the ultimate intention of appropriating the same for the construction of tents to be used in traveling. What think you now my brethren of "Russia Missions?" None so holy as these men, yet nothing too knavish or underhanded for them to perform.

In noticing the claims of Brigham Young to superior power and authority, I would here observe that I heard my brother Joseph declare before his death, that Brigham Young was a man, whose passions, if unrestrained, were calculated to make him the most licentious man in the world, and should the time ever come, said he, that this man should lead the church, he would certainly lead it to destruction. What, my brethren, I would ask you, are the claims of Brigham Young to the keys of the church, above the rest of the Twelve? They are keys which Joseph never conferred on Brigham Young, nor was power ever given to him to lead the church in his place as his successor. The church is hereby warned against any such pretensions, as little Joseph, the son of Joseph Smith is the lawful heir to the officer, being the oldest son of the deceased prophet. I was present with Joseph at the last council that was held previous to the Twelve and others going on their electioneering campaign to the east and various other parts of the United States; it was at this time that I receive my initiation into the highest priesthood lodge, was washed and anointed, and clad with the sacerdotal robe of pure white, and ordained to be priest and king, and invested with all the power that any man on earth ever did possess; power entitling me to preach the gospel, to bind up the kingdom of God on earth, among all nations, and people of every tongue. In consequence of these endowments and ordination received from under the hands of Joseph, I hold as much power and as many keys to seal and bind on earth, as can possibly belong to Brigham Young; this power was conferred equally on all the Twelve, and not therefore bestowed on one. The brethren must understand, too, that Brigham Young holds the presidency over the eleven men by age merely, and not by any legitimate authority, neither has he any superior keys; and the saints will bear in mind that a presidency over twelve men, admitted out of courtesy to age, does not make a man president, prophet, seer revelator, and perpetual head of the church, over a whole dynasty of people, to the exclusion of the lawful heir, the heir by blood and by lineage. Brethren, let my true position be known to you; reflect and you will clearly see that Brigham Young is not lawfully or legally the prophet or head of the church, and that to claim such a right is usurpation and an act of tyranny; it is robbing the innocent -- the widow and the fatherless. Further, the saints are informed that the old pioneers, fathers and founders of this church of Christ in this last dispensation, namely the Smith family, must and will stand at the head, as leaders of this dispensation in time and in eternity. According to our book of covenants, the priesthood must be handed down from father to son.

Again, the position of the "Twelve" is defined in the same book, as merely a "traveling high council" to open and make known the kingdom abroad, and not as a local presidency. Since the death of Joseph and Hiram, the church has never been organized, although the materials have been all on hand. Its present condition is that of a headless body. It cannot be perfect until there are three presidents. It is just as needful that the church have all its members, with a head to govern it, now as in the days of Joseph, or many years ago.

Temples therefore reared up, and endowments given, by usurpers, or by a headless body, can be no other than imperfect. And is not probable, I would ask, that Temples, Nauvoo Houses and other buildings, however richly wrought and gorgeously and sumptuously furnished, such palaces may be reared up in wickedness, by means of cheating and defrauding the poor, by keeping up secret combinations for robbing and plundering the Gentiles -- a Gadiantan Band -- altogether contrary to the book of Mormon, how, I would ask, can it be expected that the Almighty will bless or suffer to prosper. How, I would ask, can it be expected that Divine endowments can be given in such houses, or that God will ever bless such a priesthood or such a people. It is this secret combination that has concocted the California expedition, and that are the present ruling authorities of Nauvoo, and the assumed directors of the church, to whom thousands are looking for their endowments. Mark me, many and honest saint will bitterly rue they ever followed the advice of such counselors, and the more especially should they wander with such men into the wilds of the forest, and there become, as they assuredly would, slaves, yea even more, a prey to the beastly passions of tyrants, deprived altogether of the sweets of liberty and the freedom of speech. I heard Brigham Young say not long since, and the remark made my blood run cold, that, the man that did not comply with the measures established by them in that land his head should come off, or at all events none should return to tell their tales. These men will tell you stories of peace and plenty, but I warn you to believe them not; they will tell you of a land of liberty, and call it the "land of the free, and the home of the brave," they will talk of raising a standard of freedom for the oppressed, and tell you, you will enjoy liberty, sweet liberty; they will tell you all these things and much more, till once they get you within their grasp. Then, my brethren and sisters you will be robbed by them of all that is virtuous and good; also of your property, and if need be, even of your lives.

Less than five or ten years will reveal the sad tale of the utter ruin of all that engaged in this venturesome and hazardous expedition. No matter my brethren, what may be represented to you as boastful perfections and imaginary beauties and qualities, of the self-styled "Archers of Paradise," or "Lions of the Lord," and their building temples in the moon, or in the dark and deep wilderness, thousands of miles away from all the inhabitants or civilized life. All such fanciful notions must necessarily fade away like the airy visions of heathen worshippers, to sink and rise no more; yes, like the crumbled ruins of decayed and burnt up cities -- or like the "golden coin" hid up in the corner stones, or like the deposited parchments of ancient days, declaratory of the greatness of certain self righteous men, seen in Heavenly visions, or more properly in the mental wanderings of filthy daylight dreamers, with their one hundred and one temples; all such things must come as far short of the truth of an eternal reality, as will the power of the evil one in dispossessing the righteousness of God, and possessing the kingdom for ever. Let the Elders understand this, and proclaim against it, in the fear of God, and thus save the souls of men from ruin. Follow no such spirits, my brethren but follow such men as Hyram and Joseph, Peter and Jesus, and all such spirits as do justice, in that respect the rights of all men, and especially of the widow and the fatherless.

It is astonishing indeed to see the religious chicanery and hypocrisy of those men. In the first place Adams comes on east, bearing letters from Willard Richards and the Council of Nauvoo, announcing the deaths of Hiram and Joseph Smith, to the scattering "Twelve" with advice to me not to return at present to Nauvoo, for fear of increasing the excitement; thus by my absence enabling them to use all efforts, to get the Church bound up to Brigham Young, as its president; the rest of the Twelve resigning all their power into his hands, and thereby rendering themselves powerless.

Thus they thought to get a dig at me, having the bishops ready to say "amen!" with a police bound by covenants and oaths to protect the said Brigham Young, as the president and head of the church, and to carry out all his measures. While this Brigham Young was pampering the church with the idea that although little Joseph was the rightful heir to the priesthood, and office of his father as prophet, seer, and revelator, that it was not prudent to mention this for fear of the little child's life. This was the talk to me, and was one reason why I made the declaration of my satisfaction, still being anxious to believe these men honest. At another time I spoke of the church being without a head, three Presidents, etc., etc., but such observations were treated with lightness and as being of no consideration. And although the matter was dropped for a time, I still heard and saw, and every day's proceeding convinced me, that something was radically wrong.

The impression that B. Young was the successor and had even more power than Joseph, that things prospered better, etc., etc., was spread about in all directions. -- And to complete this man's reign of power, there was adopted, as I have before alluded to, the system of spiritual wifery, which was entered into secretly: and directions given to John Taylor and others to proclaim on the stand that all saints should call on Brigham Young for counsel notwithstanding I was by right a counselor of the church. It was, my brethren, in this way, that the cords were drawn tighter and closer. Men's wives and daughters were secretly married at night-time to this Young, H. C. Kimball, William Richards, and others, and, in the dark night, were attending the secret lodges, until most of the "Seventies" were thus sealed and bound under a cloak of adopting children into their kingdoms.

All these measures were profoundly secret, and the actors were bound to protect the noble fathers and lords. In addition to this every exertion was made to ordain every one in the shape of man, and induce them to join the "Seventies" and thus become adopted "Brighamites." As soon as they had been induced to take the step, they soon found a reason for being no longer Smithites. Still while all these iniquitous proceedings were going on, it was the common practice for these wicked plotters to boldly and blasphemously proclaim before people, in the presence, too of hundreds that have been "sealed up" to them, that such a doctrine was false, and he that practiced it was a scoundrel and the woman that admitted it no other than a harlot.

I declare to you, my brethren, that I heard John Taylor proclaim this on one occasion, so vociferously as almost to turn him black in the face, while in a day or two afterwards he was seen sneaking through a garden, to get into a house by the back way to visit his "spiritual wives."

These have been the proceedings at Nauvoo for the last five months, these have been the practices in contradistinction to professions. The very doctrines they would teach and practice in secret, they would make use of to ruin, before the public, those who would not become their servants and their slaves. And now, my brethren and sisters, I again call on you, and especially on those, if there be any, who still remember the claims of little Joseph, and who have still respect for the memory of the martyrs Joseph and Hyrum, who can still sigh when they think of their deaths. I call upon you, I say, to come out of this Brigham Young's power, and to denounce his claims and pretensions, for be assured, they are not of God. Discard, my friends, all such hypocrisy and secret works, all such deeds of darkness. For Gadiantan Bands, secret combinations to murder, and plunder the gentiles, and trespass upon other men's rights, by discarding the marriage contract, can do nothing else than establish licentiousness, and corrupt the mortals of the rising generation. From all such abominations I proclaim myself free and independent, and I implore my friends again and again, especially those of the Smith family, to fly from this sink of iniquity and abomination, and assist in reorganizing the church of God on the old and pure gospel of Mormonism, and in accordance with the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. Bear in mind my friends that all this I speak from the deepest feelings of my heart, as the brother of the murdered martyrs, and the representative of the remaining remnants of the Smith family. It is now more than eighteen years that I have borne the storms of a persecuting world, in the firm and confident belief of the Mormon religion, as taught and practised by my brothers Joseph and Hyrum, and by my father, ever since the hiding of the golden plates from which the book of Mormon was translated. And to be told now that I am to have no control over the church of Christ, but that it is to be controlled and counseled by others, is not only palpable and gross in justice, but wicked in the sight of the Lord. It is my intention to appoint, in due time, a conference for the consideration of these and all other matters, of which due notice will be given to all.

I ought to have mentioned in a former place, that on one occasion, I heard Brigham Young say, on the stand, that he was glad Alvine Hodge was killed, and that he considered those who would follow the assassins even to the Mississippi river, were neither more nor less than fools, and that he hoped all such men would "run against just such snags." That in the territory of Iowa, murderers had been hanged and he knew it, though he did not think proper to tell his hearers how, he knew it. And he said further that it was far better for Alvine [sic] Hodge to die, than to live any longer in sin, for that he might now possibly be redeemed in the eternal world. That his murderers had done even a deed of charity for that such a man deserved to die. This as I before observed was stated on the public stand, and I leave the public to estimate the spirit in which they were made, and to draw their own conclusions as to whose counsel, and by what hands, the Hodges met their death, and their brother Alvine murdered in the streets of Nauvoo -- the victim dying in this noble lord's door-yard.

Another matter may not be omitted, namely: that Brigham Young, John Taylor, and Willard Richards with the appointed bishops have assumed the publishing of the Church Documents, the Book of Covenants, and also Joseph's private history, as their own property entirely regardless of the rights of the Smith family as therewith connected.

Again, in addition to all this assumption of power they have combined themselves into secret lodges, councils, etc., where they concoct all their plans unknown to the common people of the church, out of this have arisen the whitling and whistling societies for disposing of strangers, and the beastly annointing of all who oppose their plans. With this council I am told, the Indians hold a correspondence, and men are frequently rent to colleague with them. Some three or four are now on a visit to the western tribes. Of late, one of their number of the name of Dunham, died among the Indians; he went by the name of "Black Hawk," and was known by that cognomen among many of the Mormons. On the company to which he belonged returning to Nauvoo, a portion of them were sent to the east, for the purpose of raising men for a general campaign among the Indians, to be entitled 'secret braves.' The names of these men can easily be had. The circumstances under which I left Nauvoo are such, that I feel it a duty thus to lay them before my friends and brethren. I did not leave that place too soon, for the very day of my departure it was whispered to me that a secret plot was already concocted for taking away my life.

The saints then, will see from the foregoing, that although it was my privilege to act as counselor to the church, and as patriarch over the whole church, in the place of my brother Hyrum, a fact, with regard to right, which had been over and over again admitted, as the brethren must all well remember. But now how have things changed? All the acts of those who have usurped the power have been most illiberal and uncharitable towards me, and the most flagrant outrage of rights as well as the breaking of sacred covenants have plainly shown their treachery and deceit.

All these things combine with their secret combinations, I conceive to be ample cause to induce me to disfellowship such men, and to denounce all their measures. Deprived of the right of acting as counselor of the saints during the last summer, I have been obliged to sit down in silence, and permit iniquity; anarchy and oppression to go on unrestrained. I feel as though I would even now shrink from the task of exposing these matters, were it not for the promptings of duty, and a hope that good may ultimately result -- I leave the event with God While I write to you, my brethren, the feeling that I have been wronged and abused, is struggling for the mastery. With full confidence however, I leave it to my friends, and the friends of justice to say, whether or not, after all the labors of my father's family, of my brother Joseph in particular, to build up the church of Christ, after all the sacrifices made by them, and the privations and persecutions endured by them, I leave it, I say, to all feeling and honest hearts, to pronounce whether or not men who never saw or knew Joseph Smith, until all such sacrifices have been made; should assume the privilege of casting off the Smith family, and depriving his lineal successors of the right to teach and direct the church and correct its evils. Such a course of proceeding, and by a band of men, too, whose deeds would make "the very heavens blush," and the honest in heart to quake, were they fully exposed to the light. -- Even while I pen these remarks to you I fancy I see the care worn visage of my poor old mother, broken down, as she is and almost worn out with the accumulated troubles of years. I see too, in fancy, three sisters, with their husbands, struggling hard in the midst of poverty; relatives, my friends, who have endured the contumely of the world, and who have had to brave the storm of persecution from the first, in peril, in wretchedness, and in want. To think, I say, of all they have gone through, and that now they should be deprived of all honor and station in the church, have no word of controlment in the affairs of the church, and that those who did seem to have a valor, should be now shut out, cannot possible appear to the brethren as anything else than acts of ingratitude and illiberality. My poor old mother has witnessed (it was not enough) the burial of him who was the partner of her life, of my poor father, the good old patriarch, but his departure to the grave has no effect on the feelings of these usurpers of power, nor has either the melancholy martyrdom of her two sons, my brothers. I feel, brethren, as though I were alone among thousands, and my griefs have remained hidden within my own breast, lest they should disturb the peace of a parent almost within her grave. I have borne these oppressions and wrongs until I feel as though they had eaten into my heart like a devouring worm, and wasted my life away for lack of peace, of rest, and of hope. Night and day prayed I that the bitter cup might pass, but the thought will obtrude itself, of all that has been done, and ungratefully repaid, to my mother, my brethren, and my sisters. I cannot but think of the thousands they have fed and clothed, and of the awful storms of persecution they have waded through, and of the threatenings of death they have boldly faced, in order to build up the church, that now should be imparting spiritual life to millions of souls. I cannot but solemnly think, too, that she who was the mother of the prophet should now, in these evil times, be ridiculed on the public stand. And by the very men over whom she has acted as a mother in the church. These accumulations of sorrow have been to me alone beyond endurance, and my brethren, must pardon any evidence of weakness. Pardon, however, need not be hatred for telling simple and plain truths. "Vincit omnis veritas," is an old and just motto, "truth conquers all things," and respecting it there cannot need excuse. I anticipate nothing more or less than the hatred of these men to whom I have referred in the foregoing remarks, the vials of their wrath will undoubtedly be poured out on my head, and the bitterest anathemas altered against me, to injure and misrepresent my character and motives. But these things will not be done by any fair and honorable means; drowning men, as saith the proverb, always snatch at straws, and this will be in regard to these matters. By vile means will they seek to accomplish their vile purposes, or as the poets say: "Crowns won by blood by blood must be maintained," and that "the God of Justice sanctifies no evil as a step towards good." "Great actions cannot be achieved by wicked means." Treachery and deceit have been the game played by these men until they have congregated around them a large body of people to Nauvoo, bound by covenants, promises, and secret oaths, to such an extent as to prevent them from breaking off or leaving these men. It is this by treachery and deceit, that their purposes have to be maintained Notwithstanding all these things, however, let the storm be ever so rough, I am fully prepared for the worst. By the help of God, I shall outride the tempest. Their mercy or their pity I solicit not; I look upon them as a disorganized body, without power to save, curse, or damn. Without power, also, to "cut off" Their acts, like wicked spirits, (for as such I regard them) will do only to be numbered with such like spirits in hell; and their deeds of cruelty and acts of injustice will assuredly sink them deeper and deeper in impenetrable darkness forever, unless they repent and restore all that they have taken away from the innocent. Not even a prayer of the murdered victims they have so much gloried in shall be theirs, and the candlestick shall be removed. There is, my brethren, not the slightest cause whatever why the church should have so long remained unorganized, and to be, as it now is, a mere headless body; the causes, however, from the foregoing statement, must now be plainly evident; it is usurpation, tyranny, and wickedness of the blackest dye, that have occasioned it all. Let the brethren read the prophets, and there they will plainly see that Samuel, the prophet, was ordained while he was yet only a child, as was also the prophet Noah. For the truth of these remarks, I refer you to our book of covenants, on lineage, ordinations, etc., etc. Even children were named, and their work and destiny appointed them, by the angel of God, while they were still unborn. It appears evident to me that when, hereafter, souls wake upon heaven, or the eternal world, it will be found that God did not lie, when he declared that in the posterity of Joseph all the nations of the earth should be blessed. And if Joseph does not frown upon those who profess that they are carrying out his measures, while at the same time they are robbing his son of his lawful inheritance, then I have but a poor idea of human justice, or of the moral virtues of the angels in heaven. To digress once more, be it remembered that John Taylor fancied he had done a brave thing when he published his false notions and misstatements with regard to my patriarchal office, at a time when he knew I had not the power of defense, in consequence of the rich and liberally installed virtues of the Nauvoo police. Poor simple man! "Christ did not confer the keys upon his brothers, but gave them to Peter!"

So he did, but why? Because he was of the royal blood no doubt. But why, Mr. Taylor, had you not read that Christ was of a branch of the house of Israel of which branch nothing was said concerning the priesthood? And again, it was not expected that Christ's priesthood should come through the lineage of his mother, but from God. Hence the saints will notice the difference. Joseph Smith inherited his priesthood by lineage, he being a descendant of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, and the same priesthood is continued from father to son -- as was, also, my patriarchal office inherited from my father and brother Hyrum.

And now, brethren, permit me to say, that so long as the sun, moon, and stars perform their successive revolutions, so long both on earth and hereafter, shall I have faith in the doctrine of legal descent, lineage & blood. And the 'Twelve' might as well claim to be my father and mother, as to claim to be the authors of my patriarchal priesthood, an office for which I return no thanks to any one on earth, but only to my Father in Heaven. It is an office to which I shall lay claim to the day of my death. It is upon such principles that I take my ground, and hold myself in readiness to meet any fate at the bar of God. The Twelve did not ordain me one of their number, nor decree my lineage in the Smith family, and I shall never suffer myself to be controlled by Brigham Young or any of his coadjutors. It was from a love of peace, my brethren and sisters, and from no other motive, that I have delayed the publication of these remarks. I determined to await till order and quietness were restored to Nauvoo, being unwilling to inflame a wicked and unhallowed mob, to distress the Innocent and unoffending. I well know that there are hundreds of honest Saints, of good and virtuous, and noble spirits, in the city of Nauvoo, respecting whom I hope and pray that they will canvass these things in their minds and snap asunder their present yoke of oppression, and strive to secure to all a just recompense of what is due to them.

God knows I wish to do right and to see the church prosper; to this end I have labored for years. My only desire now is that my friends be calm and devote their minds to the cultivation of the spirit of kindness; to do good to all, to deal justly, and to love mercy. The doctrine that the gentiles are a prey to devouring fire, and under the wrath of God, shews nothings but a malignant spirit, the very reverse of the feeling of the Holy Being that died for us on the cross. Let the saints content themselves in different bodies in the different states, and build churches and school houses, for the edification and education of themselves and children, and thus become a delightful people, clad with Gospel grace.

And now may the God of peace and abundant mercy abide with all the faithful. May He be present with all the honest in heart, and may He deliver the innocent from all fear, and prompt the pure-minded saint, to come out, and assist in building up the kingdom as it was at the beginning. That Zion may put on her beautiful garments, and see no more the wasting and destruction of her borders. Let the feeling of the heart be to bury every weapon of death, and learn war no more. Ever and anon, my friends and brethren, you will hear from me again. In the mean time permit me to assure you that I am in all sincerity of heart and singleness of purpose your affectionate and devoted brother. Also your earnest fellow-laborer in the gospel.
WILLIAM SMITH,
One of the "Twelve," and Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

PROCLAMATION OF BILL SMITH.

But few productions have appeared, in the history of Mormonism, that have been sought for with more avidity than the extraordinary Proclamation of Bill Smith, which we publish in today's paper. It is a document, which taken in connection with the testimony, previously elicited, establishes beyond a doubt, the utter depravity of the Mormon Leaders and the dangerous nature of the secret combinations existing in Nauvoo.

In relation to the author, Smith, we have but little to say. He is doubtlessly actuated, in this expose, by selfish and interested motives, and were it not for the fact that he has been virtually stripped of power in Nauvoo he, in all probability, would never have appeared before the public.

Smith has the reputation of being a man of candor and generosity, and were it not that he has been so long subjected to the corrupting influences of Mormonism, we should have some confidence that he was really actuated by a desire to expose iniquity.

Notwithstanding we can give Smith but little credit for his motives, we yet believe his statements. The composition bears, on the face of it, the evidence of its truth. There is nothing about it except its religious matter that is overstrained or improbable; but it is a plain narrative, corroborating the statements which have been so repeatedly made by seceders from the Mormon Church.

There is one thing about it which we do not like and that is his opposition to the California Expedition; still, we think, it is highly probable that Smith will be confirmed. If we were called on to give advice to the Saints, in relation to the best course for them to pursue, we would say: First; Hang the Twelve, the Bishops and the City police, and then scatter through those communities, which, in the late difficulties, expressed so much sympathy in your favor.

Note: William Smith first printed his "Proclamation" as a broadside or a tract, at Galena, Illinois, in an edition of 500 copies, a few days prior to its publication in the Signal's as a reprint. No doubt the reprint reached many more readers than did William's original notice.

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, November 5, 1845. No. 33.

THE DAVENPORT MURDERERS. -- We sho'd have mentioned, last week, that the two Longs and Young had been convicted of the murder of Col. Davenport and were sentenced to be hung on last Wednesday.

The trial of Baxter and the two Reddings came on the 20th. ult. The first was convicted, but the Reddings managed, it is said, to get two Mormons on the Jury, and in consequence they could not agree. They stood ten for and two against a conviction.

Fox has mysteriously disappeared. -- There must have been some connivance by some of the guard or he could not have escaped. The people of Rock Island talk of Lynch Law on the suspected persons.

JAS. ARLINGTON BENNETT, we learn is now in Nauvoo, telling the saints what a great man he is, and what he can perform, in case necessity ispresented again, to take the field. The Quincy Whig says that the recent impudent behavior of the Mormons to Major Warren, was owing to the imprudent counsel of this officious and blustering humbug.

Bennett has been requested to take command of the expedition across the Rocky Mountains. Guess he won't go.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, November 12, 1845. No. 34.

NAUVOO EXPOSITOR. -- We have neglected to notice, heretofore, the trial of the Mormons, indicted for the destruction of the press of the Nauvoo Expositor. We find in the last Quincy Herald a letter from a correspondent which we copy below, and which draws a very correct picture, not only of that trial, but will answer with a little variation every case wherein Mormons or their friends are so concerned:

TRIAL OF THE MORMON RIOTERS.

Mr. Editor: -- In your correspondence from Nauvoo, I find the following paragraph:

"Late in the afternoon of Wednesday, I returned to Carthage, where the Court was still in session, and was occupied in the trial of five Mormons charged with the destruction of the press in Nauvoo in 1844. The case went to the Jury at a late hour in the evening, who returned a verdict of not guilty next morning."

Now, Sir, believing you have not given a report of said trial as its importance demands, I deem it due to the public to fill up the vacuum you have left, as the case was the means of presenting glaring specimens of Mormon perjury, and proving beyond all cavil or doubt the utter impossibility of enforcing the laws in Hancock county against the Mormons. The accused were charged with a high crime. It is true they were only indicted for a riot; but that riot consisted in entering a printing office and taking the press into the public streets of Nauvoo, and there, in open day, and in the face of the American people, burning it as a Public Nuisance under an ordinance of said city for no other reason than that press had dared to expose the iniquity of Joe Smith and his guilty confederates. It may then truly be said, the accused were charged with a high crime. A monstrous outrage had been committed upon the liberty of the press, an outrage that stands without a parallel in the history of our nation, and one that cries aloud for redress. Yet mark the sequel. The trial scarcely deserves to be distinguished by the appellation of solemn mockery. A Mormon jury were empannelled, many of them from Nauvoo, and each one as he was called to the stand was interrogated upon his oath by the Prosecuting Attorney, whether he had formed or expressed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the accused, or the character of the offence, and with one solitary exception they answered in the negative. When pressed still further upon the points they manifested an almost total ignorance of the occurrence -- had occasionally heard the destruction of the press spoken of, but upon the whole did not know much if anything about it. Believing the answers to be false the Prosecutor exhausted the number of his [peremptory] challenges, but the places left empty by those rejected, were filled up by Mormons still more obnoxious, if possible. Such then was the jury, and you have told us the result -- a result that every one present knew as well before as after the Jury retired. -- The reason they did not return a verdict of not guilty the same evening they went out is probably this. They had collected in considerable numbers to attend Court, (some of the rioters being a part of the regular jury,) and having brought their provision and bedding with them they occupied the Court House as a sleeping room, and doubtless rested very comfortably upon easy consciences until the next [morning].

Now I wish to ask every candid man one or two questions. Do you believe the Mormons told the truth when they answered upon oath that they had formed and expressed no opinion as to whether the burning of the press was right or wrong? Do you believe they told the truth when they answered they had not formed or expressed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the accused. And do you believe them when they tell you they knew but little if anything about the destruction of the press? If you are prepared to believe these statements it would require but little exertion for you to believe Joe Smith was a genuine Prophet.
A LOOKER ON.

From the N. Y. Observer.

THE LATE WAR.

(under construction)

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, November 19, 1845. No. 35.

From the N. Y. Observer.

CALIFORNIA -- THE MORMONS.

William Smith, a brother of the late 'prophet' gave us, a short time since, some items with regard to the Mormon movements, their California views, &c., which, though not altogether new, are interesting. It is stated that their design is to set up an independent government in that region. That they will carry with them several pieces of ordinance -- the same which excited the alarm of the Anties, last summer, on their arrival at Nauvoo. That the plan has been maturing for a long time, and that, in fact, with hate in their hearts, skillfully kept up by the Mormon leaders, whose pockets are to be enriched by their toil, the mass of the Mormons will be alike purged of American feeling, and shut out by a barrier of mountains and church restrictions from any other than Mormon freedom. -- That the design of Brigham Young and the 'twelve' is to build up a sacerdotal tyranny, the spirit of which will be more repugnant to the spread of republican principles than could possibly be the rule of Europe. This, with much more, is what is stated by Wm. Smith and other opponents of the present Mormon organization; and if this be at all true, it certainly will cause the expected removal of these people to be regarded with very different eyes by the great body of Americans, who have, heretofore, sympathized with them, as far as the matter of persecution goes, but who, nevertheless, are keenly awake to the character of every germ that may be planted in a land designed by Providence for the growth of freedom in its widest reach of branch and limb, not for the gnarled and stunted trunk of bigotry and superstition. As a people flying for conscience sake, the Mormons must interest all; but as a tribe marching, however far, with a deep design of appropriating territory for the planting of institutions which can never combine with the fabric we are raising, they become no more than cunning adventurers, whose progress few will say 'God speed' to.

We only state a case; -- the entire disinterestedness of Wm. Smith and others, is no more unquestionable than that of those whom he denounces; but our attention has, certainly, been attracted by the tone of the last saintly organ, which seems to have for its object the exasperation of the Mormons not only against their oppressing neighbors, but against the whole country, consigned accordingly to the editor, to woe and destruction. Passion might excuse such ridiculous intemperance but policy seems rather to be at the bottom of it, and we are led to suspect that there may be some truth, in the Anti-American nature of the expected removal. The following is the tone of their farewell to the Union, and we argue little good from it:

We owe the United States nothing: we go out by force as exiles from freedom. -- The Government and people owe us millions for the destruction of life and property in Missouri and Illinois. The blood of our best men stains the land, and the ashes of our property will preserve it till God comes out of his hiding place, and gives this nation a hotter portion than he did Sodom and Gomorreh. 'When they cease to spoil they shall be spoiled,' for the Lord hath spoken it. -- Revellie

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, November 26, 1845. No. 36.

TROUBLE IN THE MORMON CAMP.

We, this week, publish the letter of Bill Smith in reply to the letter of Orson Hyde inviting him to become reconciled and return to Nauvoo. It will be seen that Bill is in earnest in his denunciations of the Twelve and that the quarrel between them is of an irreconcilable nature. Smith feels that he has been wronged and is determined to have revenge. He has therefore stationed himself in St. Louis where he is lecturing on the corruptions of the present Mormon dynasty and exposing the iniquities practiced in Nauvoo. -- This is evidently galling to the Saints and they are determined, now they cannot reconcile him, to sink him if possible.

Smith has, however, it appears some pretty strong supporters, and amongst these Elder Olney, whose expose will, in part, be found in another column of today's paper. G. J. Adams is also figuring in St. Louis, as appears from the following advertisement, which we find in the St. Louis Reveille of the 20th inst.

TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION.

A Lecture Extraordinary.

At the new and splendid Lyceum Hall, northwest corner of Third and Pine streets, on Thursday evening November 28, at 7 o'clock.

Mr. G. J. ADAMS (formerly a Mormon) will deliver a lecture as above upon the Wickedness, Corruptions and Abominations, of the present organization of Mormons, and proposes a plan by which Nauvoo may be overthrown, with honor and credit to the country.

The following subjects will be treated upon, viz: -- The deceptions practised by their present leaders -- their designs against the Government of the United States -- also the State of Missouri -- their league with the Indians -- the plurality of wives, or Spiritual Wife Doctrine -- their object in gathering the people together -- their abominable and wicked practices -- their humbug expedition to California, &c., &c., &c.

Admittance -- 25 cents.

N. B. -- Ladies will not be admitted."

... [From the following] correspondence between Orson Hyde, one of the Mormon Twelve, and Wm. Smith, the Mormon Patriarch, it will be seen that the Mormons have resorted to paper bullets:

Nauvoo, Oct. 28, 1845.
Bro. Wm. Smith:
I take this opportunity to express my surprise and regret at the course you have taken in leaving this place under the circumstances that existed at the time, and still more am I surprised on reading your proclamation. Wm., that was a cruel thrust, but its barbed point will pierce none but you. And to cap the climax, that you should send a bundle of these pamphlets to Tom Sharp, as if thereby to win the sympathy of the very man whom you have the best reason to believe was the real instigator of the murder of your brother Joseph and Hiram.

Now, William, I know all your plans as well as you do yourself. I know what you wrote before you left here. I know what you have done in the east and precisely what your influence is there.

Although I have written so plainly to you, William, I want to be your friend. -- I beseech you in the name of God to come speedily back to Nauvoo. You shall not be harmed. Your mother's heart is grieved and broken. You are her son, she feels for you, and all the church feel for you. We feel that you have aimed a deadly blow at us, still we fear no evil therefrom; but all would be glad to forgive you, if you will only come within the reach of our forgiveness, in your person and your spirit. You may think that you have no friends in Nauvoo, but, William, I know that your best, and only real friends are here. I will give you a sign by which you may know yourself that God is not pleased with your course, and I do not claim the aid of inspiration, either. No one of your plans or schemes will succeed according to your expectation. -- The Keys of the Priesthood command the influence and power of the Church. If you have their influence and power, you have the Keys. But if you have not, you have no grounds to indulge that thought. "All things must be done by common consent" saith the law of the church. Now, brother William, struggle against your friends no more. But return to us, and we will do you good and not harm. There is no one here that wishes to harm the hair of your head. Come home, then, and abide in the council of your brethren! -- If you do not, you cannot prosper.

With feelings of great anxiety, for your welfare, both here and hereafter.

I am your friend and well wisher,
ORSON HYDE.

St. Louis, Nov. 12, 1845.To Mr. Orson Hyde, of Nauvoo::
Sir: -- I am in receipt of your communication per Mr. J. Salsbury, of the 28th inst., and am certainly quite as much surprised at your attempt to persuade me from a proper line of duty and principle, as you possibly can be at the mode and manner I have adopted to resent the injuries I have sustained, and the base ingratitude to which I was subjected during my sojourn at Nauvoo. Have you, sir, not aided and assisted in robbing me, and those with whom I am connected, of the powers and privileges in the church to which I was lawfully entitled?

As regards the injured feelings of my aged mother to which you have the baseness and audacity to refer, permit me to say, that you and the balance of the "Twelve" alone have been the contributor to her sufferings, and could the gaping wounds of that widowed parent's heart but give utterance, and tell you the origin and source of her grief, your heart, although petrified and dead to every principle of charity and gratitude, would soften at the bleeding tale, and exhibit to you one of the guilty authors of her troubles, and the corrupt and damning influence which governs and characterizes your present course of conduct in connexion with the spurious "Twelve." Your contemplated sheet charges me with being the cause of her grief and trouble, but you are well aware of the falsity of such an assertion. The treacherous dishonesty and secret combinations of you and your sycophants, and the unhallowed course of the present assumed leaders of the Church; have been the sole and only cause; and had you possessed the least spark of even expiring veracity, or the nobleness of soul, and sympathy of feeling which characterizes humanity, principle would have shuddered and justice revoked even an allusion to that subject.

I am here as an exile driven from my home, and that, too, by the requisition of your leaders in secret council, who deliberated upon the necessity of my murder, and required that the sacrifice of my blood should be made as speedily as possible. Providence aided me in my escape from the armed assassins, who were employed by their leader or President Brigham Young. These statements you will, no doubt, deny; but they are no less true.

The arrow of revenge is sharp, and when wielded by the strong arm of a Saint, will not fall powerless and harmless, at your feet. None have reason to fear but the guilty wretch who shrinks from the presence of an honest community, and seeks refuge beyond the power of the law and the order of civilization.

You are well advised of the fact, that I have been wronged and robbed by my pretended friends, among whom I rank your saintly self, and that, too, in an hour when I had but little reason to anticipate danger. Did you or any one of your leaders repudiate the operations and secret workings of Brigham Young to destroy my privileges -- nay, even to destroy his unsuspecting victim? Oh, no, on the contrary, efforts and influences were used for the consummation of the outrage which was contemplated against me, by the diplomatical representative of his satantic majesty.

You, in the most barefaced and hypocritical manner invite me to return to Nauvoo. Upon what principle, or based upon what assumption, I am at a loss to conjecture, except that your wicked Twelve feel too keenly the sting occasioned by my safe retreat, and that you yet seek the destruction of one who opposes, in spirit and in truth, the principles and doctrines which are practised and preached in that city, and sink of iniquity. I look upon you with as much tenacity as if you were a fallen angel whose heart is sufficiently black even to darken the gloomiest prison of hell, (not one of your present colleagues excepted.) And, sir, were you aware of the injuries and wrongs which your so very kind hearted brethren have committed, and their secret plottings to rob you of every thing calculated to sweeten life or render existence desireable, no atonement could heal the wounds inflicted upon your feelings. You would not hold your peace day or night, nor give rest to your body, or slumber to your eye-lids, until the iniquitous character and conduct of your present associates were proclaimed upon the housetops. But, doubtless, some things for the present must remain a mystery to you, until by traversing the cheerless wilderness of the west, you awaken as from a reverie. Then, too, will you find yourself shorn of all power and authority, and perhaps call to recollection the facts which I have stated in this letter. Again, I say they have sought with avidity to destroy the temple of virtue, and sanctity of your happiness. Can you, therefore, after these startling developments and facts, continue to aid and encourage those robbers of your domestic happiness, and sworn enemies of your prosperity and welfare? I may, before I leave this subject, be allowed to intimate to you that Willard Richards, as well as your assumed President, B. Young, are any thing but friends of yours, and time will satisfy you fully of the truth of this remark, as well as of many that, for the present, are forbidden.

I am fully prepared to establish each and every assertion I am now making, and bid defiance to contradiction, although it is but reasonable to expect that you[r] co-demons in Nauvoo, will attempt a reply and denial of these statements. But by whom do the chosen heads of the Church consist? Why sir, of yourself and those who at this time, are a libel and disgrace to humanity, corrupt in principle, character, conduct and reputation. -- With any honest man from Nauvoo, who will meet me in this city; I am quite ready and willing to test the strength of my cause, or of my veracity in the pulpit, or to submit to the deliberations of a jury of my fellow citizens.

I have not the least cause to regret the course I am now pursuing. It is for the cause of virtue, and the result of calm reflection, influenced by a heart struggling for life and liberty, and revolting against the murder, stratagem and treason so carefully matured and rocked in that cradle of crime, Nauvoo. If you think that I am so lost, to every principle of honor that I would surrender one particle of the right which you know legally belongs to me, you are egregiously in error. I have a spirit which will breathe upon your organized band of assassins, murders and robbers, a lava which will soon extinguish the flame of ingratitude now burning against me. This is the first eruption, and be careful that the volcano of truth does not open with terrible effect upon your guilty heads; can it be possible that any person possessing the ordinary capacity of a liberal being can imagine for one moment, that B. Young., or any of the Twelve who are rebels to the original principles and practices of Mormonism, are in possession of the keys of any kingdom, except those of the blackest regions of darkness.

You remark that you know what my influence is in the Eastern States, and what I have written. This does not in the slightest degree surprise me, and for your information, I will say, that I am perfectly well aware of the secret manner in which you, Brigham Young, Parley P. Pratt, and the rest of the Twelve, and many others of my (brethren and) pretended friends, have for some months labored to weaken and destroy the confidence reposed in me by my brethren at the East. The bite of the adder is poisonous, and it seeks its prey upon the highway; just so have you and your hypocritical brethren endeavored to ensnare me into difficulty and crime; but I prefer being the bitten stranger and injured victim, rather than to dwell (in a den of snakes) among a set of people who are daily outraging every principle of morality, and that, too under the most solemn pretended authority from God. I desire no honors from such a band of pharisees and robbers, as I know many of these apostolic scoundrels are. Time will fully establish the truth of every charge I make against them. I am now prepared openly and boldly, to expose every secret evil which is practised by Brigham Young and his brother leaders at Nauvoo, and elsewhere. I'm not now surrounded by an armed body of men, employed by the leaders of a Church to destroy the persons and property of those who honestly differ with them in religious opinion, and are bound by oaths to murder indiscriminately whoever may oppose the secret and wicked plans and practices of the immaculate Brigham Young. As a specimen of the moral degradation existing among you, I will mention Parley P. Pratt as a fit subject to introduce. You are well aware that this unassuming and righteous apostle came from the East, a few days since, in company with a female whose appearance and conduct bear sufficient evidence of his utter disregard of virtue or religion. This is not the only crime he is guilty of. His iniquitous conduct is well known in the East and speaks for itself. It is needless for me to enlighten you further upon the character of B. Young, John Taylor, W. Richards, and many others who are continually preaching the doctrine, and openly practising adultery; for this you know too well. Let these dreadful monsters dare to go to the Eastern States, and I think it would not be long before they would find out that in some instances "corn cobs have not been shelled for nothing."

You speak of the Keys going with the body of the Church. This I deny. You know such a statement is false; for the law of God teaches no such thing. On the contrary, you know that the Keys control and govern the church in every matter connected with its ecclesiastical government. Where I would ask were the Keys, the power and blessing of the holy Priesthood, when the multitude of Israel followed and worshipped the golden Calf. It requires no vision to inform you that the Keys were in possession of the few, while the multitude followed their apostate leaders, among whom Aaron was most conspicuous. What was the result? Did they not have to drink the bitterness of their own folly. Yes, sir, and ere long the followers of the present despot, B. Young will have to drink a similar draught. -- Scripture and reason teach us that those who are led by wicked rulers must necessarily be astray, and powerless as those who govern and direct then; for wicked rulers have neither Priesthood nor power. My Priesthood was conferred upon me by a higher power than the iniquitous Twelve. It was conferred by a just God who never errs and who cannot look upon sin with the slightest degree of allowance of palliation. You remark, if I have not the influence of the Church I must not indulge the thought of having the Keys of the Priesthood. Where and in what condition was the Church when my brother Joseph received his Priesthood? You will certainly grant that it was conferred upon him by some means, (other than the Church.) You will no doubt say that I was ordained. So I was; but not by either the church or the Twelve; for before they were, "I am." Admitting, for the sake of argument, that they ever ordained me it amounts then to a ceremony only, and by no means conferring any right or power to which I was entitled. For this, I inherit by lineage, according to the tenets of the original church of Latter Day Saints. My brother Joseph was also baptised and ordained by Oliver Cowdery. -- Now, sir, you might as well claim, that this man was, or is now the head of the Church and the author of Joseph Smith's Priesthood, as to claim that the Church or the Twelve are the origin or authors of mine; and what the Church did not give she cannot take away. I received what I possess, not from the church, but from the Great Author of the Universe, through my brother Joseph and father, by ordination and lawful inheritance.

I care not for your boasted pretensions to rule, and authority in the church, for I am independent of any such band of lying hypocrites, as I know the present rulers to be. They are apostates in every sense of the word from the true church of Christ and it does not require the aid of revelation to establish the truth of this statement, (although upon this subject there is an abundance).

Your invitation to return to the quorum of the twelve, I treat with that calm and dignified scorn which such barefaced hypocrisy justly merits. No sir, I return no more to such a den of thieves and quorum of iniquity. I am fixed in my course and firm as the Rock of Gibraltar; and I protest against your proceedings and conduct. I know there are many friends now in Nauvoo who are afraid to express their opinion, but it will not always be so. As regards the course I am taking, make yourselves as contented as possible, for I do not apprehend any alarm as to my success, for I think my chances are quite as encouraging as yours possibly can be, in the event of your departure to the wild and cheerless far-west. Your tyrant usurpers will there be shielded from civilized law, and ere long you will be made to feel the lash of their power. My life and exertions will be
(in order to perpetrate the names of my father's family and with honor to the noble martyred brothers Joseph and Hiram wipe away the disgrace, the stain, the evils that, since their deaths, have crept into the church. And by too frequent use of their names, the twelve are carrying out the most wicked, base and unhallowed purposes that could be devised under the cloak of Joseph and Hiram's names. Brethren! be assured that Joseph or Hiram never would have sanctioned the present wicked plans of the twelve; their corruption, their sink of iniquity, their removal to the wilderness, their doctrine of polygamy, usurpation, etc.) exercise for the redemption of the church to its original purity, and the rights of my father's and brother's family. I am by no means discouraged, but that I will finally succeed, I have no doubt. -- I am willing by the help of God to try it, at least for six years to come.

You say that I sent a bundle of pamphlets to the editor of the Signal at Warsaw. This is a falsehood. If any was sent to that gentleman, I was not aware of it. -- But I understand what you mean by this. It is done for affect, as a great many other things are done at Nauvoo for the same purpose, such as fasting and prayer, a proclamation, or an avowal of friendship before the public, but in secret council sworn and inveterate enemies. Oh shame, where is thy blush! Look upon these hypocrites and then hide thy face with confusion. The best evidence we have of a man's friendship is in his works and not in his professions. Let him that has wronged his brother restore fourfold, or he will be damned and go to hell. But I am well satisfied that your rascally twelve can find some scoundrels, enough to condemn and swear away the life of any one upon whom they wish to be revenged.

I will conclude by earnestly hoping that you will come as a humble penitent, seeking forgiveness, that you may find mercy while it is called to-day. Flee, I say, flee the wrath to come, and wash your hands of all iniquity, and give your aid to the re-building of the pure and original principles of the religion and kingdom of Jesus Christ, as taught by my brothers Joseph and Hiram.

Your well wisher and friend; in all good works. WM. SMITH.
Patriarch of the Church.

From the St. Louis Reveille

A Spiritual Sister -- Her encounter with a doubtful Smith.
________

BY SOL TAIRE.
________

'There goes Smith, the Attorney,' said a man to his friend, as a tall figure, slightly stooped, hurried by them.

'I beg your pardon," answered the friend, 'that is the Rev. Mr. Smith, a preacher. I have heard him in Tennessee.' ...

On board the steamer was a Mormon sister, on her way from down east to the holy city of Nauvoo, and many and anxious were her enquiries, if any brother of the church was on board? None were able to inform her. At length the Captain, at the table enquired: --

'Shall I help you to get a little of this roast beef, Mr. Smith?'

'Thank you, a small piece,' was the reply.

'Smith,' said the sister, 'Smith, that's a member, jest as sure as shoutin' -- I'll get introducedto him after a spell, and I reckon he'll turn out to be a shure enough brother.'

'After a spell' she did , through the kindness of the Captain, get an introduction to him, and was previously informed by the commander, that Sol was not only sure enough Mormon, but an elder -- in fact a Smith! Sol, as usual, was courteous and affable... and the sister was 'tickled all to death' at the idea of falling in with so pleasant an elder. She was a little ancient, but buxom, and Sol felt flattered by her singling him out for an acquaintance.

'I'd a know'd in a minit that you was a member of the church, by your countenance and your hat, brother Smith, you do look so saintly,'

'Yes, M'am,' answered he, most people take me for a member.'

'There's only one thing, brother Smith, which appears rayther about our church,' and she looking modestly at Sol, and biting the corner of her handkerchief. and that's the new system they have introduced.'

'Why, yes -- yes,' said Sol; at fault; 'new systems' do trouble the church a good deal.'

'Law, brother Smith, do you think the spiritual system a trouble?'

'Well, no, not exactly, if it's a good spiritual teaching,' answered he, 'it's only the false doctrines are evil.'

'Well, that's jest what Elder Adams said down in hour parts, and he ses that it was spiritually revealed to the Prophet Joseph, your brother, and I was jest a thinkin' -- and she spread her handkerchief over her face, and twisted her head to one side. -- 'I was a thinkin' if you hadn't chosen a ---'

'We're at the landing, M'am, excuse me for a moment,' and off shot Sol to his state room, where he seized a pair of well worn saddle-bags, and his old hat, which he had thus carried with him, intending to have it brushed up, and started for the gang-way plank. The Captain met him in his haste, and enquired where he was going?

'Why, Captain. said Sol, 'I like your boat vastly, and you know I like you, but there might be a 'blow up' if I stayed on board much longer.'

'Explain,' said the Captain.

'Why, the fact is,' said Sol, 'that lady you introduced me to has taken me for the Mormon Smith; now, I'm a good many Smiths when my family and titles are all collected, but I aint THAT Smith! Just tell her so for me, and give her my old hat -- it's the best I can do for her.' We needn't add that brother Smith was straightway among the missing!

Note 1: The above fictional anecdote takes on something of a personal color, when it is recalled that of all of Joseph Smith's brothers, only William Smith remained living in 1845. William was, at that time as well as later on, accused of engaging in polygamous relations with various women. In asking the Captain to convey to the fictional "sister" his hat, the "doubtful Smith" was, perhaps, posing as a hatless victim of the river's watery depths. The real William Smith had just arrived in St. Louis, by steamer from Nauvoo, when the Reveille concocted this parody.

Note 2: On Apr. 10, 1845 Elder George J. Adams was excommunicated from the Mormons, for too openly teaching and practicing polygamy in New England. In May of 1845 G. J. Adams organized his own splinter group, located in the village of Augusta, Iowa Territory. Adams and Smith remained on good terms and, by the late summer and fall of 1845, some of the Mormon leadership feared that the two men would join forces; however, Adams' group faded away and by the late fall he was identifying himself as "formerly a Mormon." For Adams' views on succession in the Church see his letter in the July 19, 1845 issue of the New York Messenger.

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, December 3, 1845. No. 37.

FUNNY.

That supurb specimen of pomposity, called Jas. Arlington Bennett, of the Arlington House, Long Island, has been tickling our risibility to an immoderate degree with a letter which he publishes in the New York Sun of Nov. 12. As we have enjoyed, ourselves, a hearty laugh over its contents, we cannot withhold from our readers a part of the precious morsel. After speaking of the emigration of the Mormons in a style peculiarly his own, he proceeds thus:

"I sat examining the heads of President Young and his eleven brethren for the space of two hours, and must in candor say that twelve more benevolent heads could not be picked out of ten thousand men. They are truly superior men, Nature's true nobility -- but they are not the men that exactly suit my notion, because they have more discretion than fight in them -- more submission than justice demands. Had Napoleon been near the mobbers he would have shot them all. I might have done the same. These twelve Apostles are not, therefore, suited to my temper, nor are their ideas of discretion in accordance with mine. I will never submit to be trampled upon while I have the means of self defence in my power. Their people will fight but their rulers will not suffer it.

The Mormons are armed to the teeth -- every man has a musket or rifle, and many of them a revolving pistol in addition. They have ten pieces of brass cannon handsomely equipped and abundance of ammunition.

They calculate on eight thousand fighting men in the line of march next Spring; but I presume their humane leaders will not permit them to defend themselves of attacked. They will therefore be disarmed as heretofore, and shot down like dogs, if they will not defend themselves, I say, Amen.

I have matter for another letter, a curious one.

I would just add that Sharp, of the Warsaw Signal, who has been employed in burning the log cabins of the poor Mormon women, is known here, and throughout the west as a common blackguard, worthy only of such base and inhuman employment.
JAS. ARLINGTON BENNETT.

The manner in which we are noticed we consider as highly complimentary. So it appears, according to Jas. Arlington Bennett, that we are known throughout the West as a common blackguard. -- Were it not that the thing who utters this cgarge is regarded, wherever he is known as a bombastic fool of a fop, we might condescend to be offended; but we should regard it as a very great degradation, indeed, to allow our angry passions to be aroused in consequence of any thing which a Mormon, or any man who is mean enough to be the apologist of Mormons, can say of us. To the shafts of Jack-Mormons we are invulnerable. And we hereby invite the whole brood from the famous paper General, J. Aarlington Bennett up, to hurl all their missiles at our head. We will consent to stand target for the whole host, gratis, -- being firmly convinced that their united fire will not be half as annoying to us, as a flea in our boot leg. ...

DESTINATION OF THE SAINTS. -- Bennett, in his letter to the New York Sun says in relation to the emigration of the Mormons:

'The place of destination fixed upon at present is the Bay of St. Francisco, on the Pacific Ocean. Every thing is settled, and the whole Mormon people, or the great majority of them, will take their departure from Nauvoo about the 10th of May next, leaving all their property, sold or unsold, behind them!'

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, December 10, 1845. No. 38.

For the Warsaw Signal.

WHO HAS 'THE KEYS?'

Carthage, Nov. 29, 1845.
Mr. Sharp: -- There seems to be a misunderstanding between the Twelve at Nauvoo and the late Patriarch, as to which has the Keys of the Kingdom. That they are both in possession [of] Keys there is no doubt, for we have their own words for it; but who has the genuine set is not so clear, for there is a difference -- indeed a fierce controversy between them on this point. It is agreed that they were in the hands of Joseph at the time of his death. But who became their keeper, then? William Smith says that he did, as he had a right to do by all the rules of inheritance. The Twelve say they took the custody of them as his successors and personal representatives -- And they both offer to exhibit Keys (to such as can see spiritually,) in proof of their claims

The question is of a very grave importance, and one upon which no man can well remain neutral. I am free to confess that my own predilections are strongly in favor of the pretensions of the Twelve. I have no doubt there are false keys in the case; for one of the parties must necessarily have such; and it is quite probable, there are, as insinuated by Smith in his letter published last week in the Signal, Keys fitting the gates of a very different Kingdom from that of which the brethren are expecting to take possession. But I will never admit that these are the Keys in the pockets of the Twelve, and that they are consequently sending all the Saints down that way.

The Twelve were on the spot when Joseph 'departed out of sight for a season,' and had every opportunity therefore to possess themselves of the invaluable article in church government; whereas William was absent in the east, and did not return for a long time afterwards. -- Now, without casting any imputation at all upon the Twelve, and without the remotest reference to counterfeiting in any shape, it may be suggested that a set of spurious Keys might have been purposely left where William would find them on his return, and mistake them for the Keys of his brother. It might have been a trick of the d---l, to lay the foundation of future schisms and quarrels in the church, and besides, I would ask, where were the Keys during the period between Joseph's death and William's return to Nauvoo, if not in the hands of the Twelve? Were they rusting in disuse all this time? -- What, then, became of Sam Smith and the many hundred Saints of less note who passed to their account in the interim?

Every unprejudiced person who should see the contending parties would [?] at once for the claims of the Twelve. The blessed Twelve (as the Saintly sisters lovingly style them,) are a set of fine, well-fed, godly looking men as you will meet in a life time. Sleek, smooth-faced, corpulent fellows, they look for all the world like so many popes of the middle ages, who, it is well known, held the Keys in their day. But William Smith is the very reverse of all this. No man in his senses would believe there was any peculiar sanctity in such a gaunt, raw-boned, cadaverous looking wretch!

I would say to the brethren and sisters every where, that this William Smith possesses none of the gracious qualities which made Joseph so lovely in your eyes, but is a mere sniveling pretender, and pestilent heretical schismatic. -- He is endeavoring to bring into disrepute some of the most delightful doctrines and practices of the church, merely that he may sow dissentions among you, and reap a harvest of proselytes to himself. He is trying to fool you out of your expedition to California from the same motive. In view of all his vile acts and aims, I feel the spirit of indignation rising within me, and now prophesy that he, and the Saints who remain with him, will become a hissing and bye-word throughout the land. -- Beware of him, for his Keys are false. -- The Keys that Joseph had will go to California with the Twelve, Follow them; and the huge, strong doors of your 'Kingdom come' will at length be opened with a flourish, and you shall all enter in with your Prophet. ORION.

O. P. ROCKWELL. -- This delectable specimen of humanity, who was once the peculiar pet of Joe Smith and has since been regarded as the main champion of Zion in the Holy City, who some time since refused to bury his own child, but suffered it to be done at public expense, who was during the late difficulties Gen. Napoleon Backenstos' principal aid-de-camp, and rode by his side while making the valiant charge on unarmed and unresisting men, this same O. P. Rockwell, the assassin of Governor Boggs, has taken to himself a wife -- not his own wife, for be it remembered that he cast off the woman that the law regarded as his wife long since; but he has appropriated to himself the wife of Amos Davis. It is generally the case that when a wife leaves her husband to live with a seducer, they elope and settle in a place where they are not known; but there is no necessity for such a step in the Holy Nauvoo. So fashionable is it for the Heads of the church to appropriate the wives of other men to their own purposes, that it is regarded as no crime for one man to steal the companion of his neighbor and live with her in open unconcealed adultery. What a beautiful moral code is Mormonism!

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, December 24, 1845. No. 40.

LIFE IN NAUVOO. -- We learn that one day last week, O. P, Rockwell and his new wife, (who it will be recollected is the lawful wife of Amos Davis,) went together to the house of said Davis. Rockwell stood at the door, with a pistol in his hand, while his delectable partner entered the house & took from it such furniture as she desired. This was in open day light and in the face of the whole City; yet no one was shocked or astonished. In Nauvoo such proceedings are all a matter of course.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Vol. II. Warsaw, Illinois, December 31, 1845. No. 41.

MRS. EMMA SMITH, widow of the Prophet Joe Smith has written a letter to the New York Sun, in which occurs the following passage:

I never for a moment believed in what my husband called his apparitions and revelations, as I thought him laboring under a diseased mind, yet they may all be true, as a Prophet is seldom without credence or honor excepting his own family, or country; but as my conviction is to the contrary, I shall educate my children in a different faith, and teach them to obey and reverence the laws and institutions of the country.

A NEW PROPHET, has arisen in Wisconsin, who it is said, is making considerable inroads into the church at Nauvoo. He has found a new set of plates, which he is translating and which according to his own showing, proves, incontestibly that he is the rightful successor to the Prophet Joe. Many of the Nauvoo Saints seem to believe in his mission. This new Prophet opposes the emigration to Oregon.

Bill Smith and Elder Adams were in Cincinnati, at the last dates, lecturing on the corruptions and practices of the Mormon church. We have not seen any notice of the success attending them.

The St. Louis Branch of the Mormon church, it appears, have revolted and joined the standard of the patriarch Bill Smith.

Note 1: This "new Prophet" was, of course, Elder James J. Strang of Racine Co., Wisconsin. This appears to be the first notice of him in the Warsaw Signal. An earlier news report on Strang circulated in the western papers in October and early November. The item was headed "Discovery of more Ancient Plates" in most papers carrying the story. For examples the Fulton, Missouri Telegram of Nov. 15, 1845 and the Conneaut, Ohio Reporter of Oct. 23, 1845.

Note 2: William Smith and G. J. Adams apparently arrived in Cincinnati, by steamboat from St. Louis, in mid-December.
The last notice of William lecturing in St. Louis was printed on
Nov. 21, 1845. According to the
Feb. 27, 1846 issue of the Galena
Northwestern Gazette, William Smith was offering anti-Twelveite lectures in Cincinnati as late as February --
at about the same time that the Strangite missionary Samuel Searls was lecturing in that city. William was then in
the company of George J. Adams. Apparently John C. Bennett spoke with both Searls and Smith at length about the
possibility that J. J. Strang would accept himself, William Smith and G. J. Adams as religious allies in the
anti-Twelveite cause. Mention of Bennett's letters to Strang, advocating such notions, was published in the Elkhorn
New Era of Jan., 1847. G. J. Adams also corresponded with Strang about this time, seeking similar possibilities.
See notes appended to an article in the
Feb. 24, 1846 issue of the Cincinnati
Commercial for more on this subject.